Cayce debated spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a world-famous art installation for weeks. On Monday, it finally won approval.
But it’ll cost more than the initial price tag.
In February, the city announced that it was in talks with Thomas Dambo, a renowned Danish artist, to bring one of his larger-than-life troll sculptures to Cayce. Hundreds of the sculptures, constructed from reclaimed and recycled materials, are tucked away in forests and public spaces around the world. It would spur tourism and economic growth that would repay the investment many times over in revenue, officials said.
At that time, city council voted to approve negotiations up to $355,000.
When a contract first came up in an April meeting, however, a motion to discuss it in executive session did not pass. Two weeks later, council discussed the project during a closed-door meeting that went on for more than three and half hours, eventually voting to share a presentation with the public during a special called meeting.
Mayor Elise Partin and councilwomen Tiffany Aull and Alice Rose voted to enter into an agreement with Dambo to build a troll on Monday. Mayor Pro Tem Phil Carter and Councilman Byron Thomas voted against it.
It will be the first Dambo troll in South Carolina.
However, according to the city’s attorney James Smith, the city’s financial responsibility wouldn’t stop at the $352,000 for the initial proposed contract.
The city would need to spend between $50,000 and $90,000 in additional funding to support Dambo and his team, which is not included in the project’s base contract. Annual maintenance on the troll could cost approximately $3,000 to $5,000.
Payments would be made to Dambo in five installments, with each payment tied to a completed project phase, Smith said. The final payment is only issued after the full installation. The city will have the right to reject “incomplete or non-conforming” work.
Cayce will be responsible for preparing the troll’s installation site and secure any required permits and approval. It also is in charge of securing labor, equipment and materials, and help Dambo and his team with lodging and logistics.
Where is the funding coming from?
The project, with a total cost between $400,000 and $440,000, will be funded through Cayce’s hospitality and accommodations tax. By law, that pot of money must be used to promote tourism and related economic activity,
City leaders have called the troll a “one-time capital investment,” one that will see returns through visitor spending. According to a news release, cities of similar size report between 30% and 60% increases in park visitation, tens of thousands of new visitors annually and millions of dollars in estimated economic impact within years.
No private funding has been secured yet, Smith said, but Cayce submitted grant applications for the project and is looking for in-kind donations.
Many Dambo trolls are privately funded, or funded through a partnership between private and public collaborators, including those in Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Cayce pointed to “Mama Rosa” in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, as an example of a troll that was entirely funded by public dollars. Wauwatosa spent $365,000, Smith said, and received more than 62,000 visitors within the first month. It reportedly generated an economic impact of over $4 million. Wauwatosa is a city of 48,000 people and a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which is home to more than 560,000 people.
What are the next steps?
Cayce already has a timeline for the project in mind, with an initial projected opening by late 2027.
Smith said the design phase would begin in fall 2026. Dambo would visit to “scope out the site,” Smith said, and residents will have the chance to meet him. The artist and the city would work together to select a location for the troll — likely along the Cayce Riverwalk. Then Dambo will develop a concept for a unique troll and begin pre-production by early 2027.
Pre-built components, like the troll’s head, would be shipped to Cayce from Denmark.
Assembly and installation would happen in Cayce by April 2027, with a completed sculpture by November 2027.
Dambo retains ownership of the troll, but the city receives an exclusive, 10-year display license. After the initial 10 years, the license may extend another 10 years with proper maintenance.
