The late 1990s provided visitors with numerous opportunities and reasons to visit South Carolina from neighboring states. One of the biggest was in the way of gambling, thanks to video poker casinos that seemed to pop up overnight on state lines. The bright lights of these establishments lured the brave, who sought a little lady luck on their side, with lights and signs that illuminated the night skies across the state to welcome them.
In 1999, the South Carolina Supreme Court outlawed video poker machines, leaving many of these casinos abandoned as eyesores after June 2000, when the ban took effect.
Overnight, the entire industry came to a halt. Some of these buildings were destroyed, while others were repurposed; however, a few remain crumbling along the side of South Carolina roads, such as the Castle in Blacksburg, South Carolina, near Grover.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr
Image Credit: John G. Clark Jr