I’m currently working from my all-time favorite spot in Columbia, SC. Hello from Graduate Columbia! I’m sitting on the porch. There’s a breeze. Everything about this moment is perfect. I swear, I think better when I’m here. Could be because the kids aren’t. Thank you Leanna Lee + Tanya Black for your southern hospitality, as always! A much needed respite.

I’m going to write a full blog post for my Gamecock followers who may be new, but I’m forever enthralled by this hotel.

Every single thing about this day has been perfect. Let me explain…

For as long as I can remember, I’ve obsessed over the old abandoned state hospital here in town. You know, the asylum. If you’ve followed me for long, you’ve seen me gushing about the property. I’ve drooled from the outside. Until today!! I’m still smiling! That’s right, I finally found my way inside. (Thank you, Flock & Rally + Clachan Properties!)

I had no idea what to expect. Clachan Properties is transforming the property into apartments. In my mind, I assumed we would tour one or two of the units and move along. Best case scenario, I hoped to grab a few photos of the iconic Babcock building up close. Without going into too much detail, let me tell you that our time on the grounds exceeded my wildest expectations.

We’re writing a whole story, so you’re gonna have to wait to devour all the juicy details! What I will tell you is that our angle immediately changed. You guys know me. I’m all about the “creep” factor. I came here today expecting to be completely weirded out walking the historic halls. If I’m being really honest, I told mom on the way down that you couldn’t pay me to rent one of the apartments. Once inside, I changed my tune. The renovations are coming along and everything is so beautiful. It’s going to be remarkable! The vibe wasn’t creepy at all. Quite the opposite. VP, Amy Creason, was warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable. We hung on her every word as she led us through every “nook and cranny” of the Babcock.

Stay tuned for more. A lot more. Naturally, we ended up in a cemetery. Then, we made our way to Cantina76 to inhale tacos!