Can you think of a feature in your home that you use every day but rarely pay attention to? If you said your home's flooring, you'd be spot on. Most homeowners overlook their floors unless they're unkempt or dirty. However, the truth is that your flooring is the largest design element of your home, making it a crucial feature that deserves attention. As one of the first features we notice subconsciously, it must look great and impress guests.
While aesthetics is always important, your flooring must also be functional. Different rooms require different demands, and your flooring should meet those demands to prevent early wear and tear. For instance, high-traffic areas like hallways and kitchens need durable flooring materials that can handle daily use. Conversely, areas like your utility room, kitchen, and bathrooms need flooring options that are resistant to water. By balancing practicality and design, you can have a beautiful home that is stunning but also stands the test of time.
The challenge for most homeowners is choosing the right flooring materials and finding a flooring company that can help oversee that process. That's where Heritage Flooring Company comes into play. Whether you're looking to invest in high-quality hardwood flooring for a new construction project or you need to remove and replace your current design, Heritage Flooring is the expert to call.
As a locally owned and operated flooring company in South Carolina, we provide customers with a personalized experience that epitomizes customer service, quality, and hard work. Backed by over 40+ years of floor covering experience, we pride ourselves on quality you can stand on. Relationships are the foundation of our business. We are committed to delivering on our promises and strive to provide premium products at competitive prices.
Rooted with strong ties to Dalton, GA, our direct buying capabilities and low overhead allow us to provide you with wholesale flooring prices. That way, you can have peace of mind knowing you're buying high-quality flooring that will last for years to come. The best part? You don't have to break the bank to get the type of flooring you need.
We offer a range of flooring options for homeowners in the Lowcountry and beyond, including:
Whether you're renovating your bathroom and need tile flooring options or want soft, plush carpet for your living room, our staff are ready and waiting with a smile to help.
When you visit our showroom, you can expect to find some of the most beautiful and functional flooring options available in South Carolina. We also provide a range of flooring services to choose from, depending on your needs. Those services include:
Our team of highly skilled professionals provides top-notch flooring installation services, utilizing various methods such as nailing, stapling, gluing, and floating. From LVT flooring in Greenville for your entire home or granite flooring for an entryway, no project is too big or too small for us to handle!
Interior design trends and styles change every year. That can be great for designers, but if you own an older home with original flooring, your home's aesthetics may feel a tad outdated. Whether you've recently moved into a new home and find the existing floor color unsuitable or want to refresh the look of your living space, floor refinishing offers a cost-effective solution without the need for complete floor replacement. Our specialized dustless sanding method and equipment ensures minimal dust during the sanding process. Our highly skilled team can then finish your floors using natural treatments or apply a stain of your choice to achieve the desired look.
Sometimes, you live in a house for a while and learn that the stairs leading to the basement or upper level just aren't as safe or well-designed as you had hoped. If that sounds familiar, Heritage Flooring Company can help. We offer a vast collection of unfinished and prefinished stair treads, along with matching floor vents as well.
If you're taking a DIY approach to your flooring project, we stock a large quantity of vapor-lock underlayment, nails, trim, adhesives, and more so you can get all the materials you need in one central location.
Now that you know a little more about our story and the flooring services we provide, let's dig into some of the types of flooring we specialize in.
Hardwood floors are a classic home decor choice, adding charm and elegance to any space. Not only that, but they have also been shown to significantly increase the long-term value of your home. We offer a wide range of expertly crafted hardwood floors in various species and widths to suit both modern and traditional styles.
Our collection includes both solid and engineered options with wire-brushed, distressed, and hand-scraped finishes. Additionally, we provide a variety of unfinished flooring choices that can be custom-finished to meet your specific design requirements. We encourage you to swing by our showroom to see what we have - we're confident our diverse selection of hardwood flooring will exceed your expectations.
Engineered hardwood floors are made of real hardwood and constructed with multiple layers of plywood, MDF, or HDF core. Each layer is cross-stacked and bonded together, making the design extremely dimensionally stable. This stability makes engineered floors versatile and suitable for all levels of the home, especially in hot climates throughout the Southeast United States. We offer over 68 in-stock prefinished hardwood options to suit any lifestyle. Additionally, we provide flooring with the click-lock method, allowing for easy installation, as well as floating options for challenging subfloors.
Solid hardwood flooring is highly regarded by many homeowners as the top choice for flooring. It's made from a single piece of 100% hardwood and is known for its durability, authenticity, and timeless appeal. Many of our solid hardwood flooring options are crafted in the USA with fine American workmanship, and are valued for their stability, consistent color, and refined grain.
Some of the best areas to install engineered or solid hardwood flooring include:
Luxury Vinyl Plank and Tiles give homeowners the rich look of hardwood flooring and ceramic tile without the high cost and demanding upkeep. This flooring option is a must for homes with heavy foot traffic. The lifelike texture, cost-effectiveness, and quick installation make vinyl plank a highly appealing flooring alternative, offering the look of real hardwood at a fraction of the cost. Our wide range of LVP/LVT comes in various colors, textures, lengths, and different widths to suit any budget.
Ceramic tile and its installation can be both expensive and laborious for homeowners. The process takes several days and can be a burden. Luckily, LVT provides a cost-effective alternative that mimics the look and feel of ceramic tile. It features stunning natural textures and realistic grout lines, making it suitable for any space. With an easy click-and-lock system, installation becomes hassle-free. LVT is 100% waterproof, pet-friendly, and resistant to scratches and stains.
Some of the best areas to install LVT flooring include:
Looking for the appearance and sensation of hardwood floors without the expense and upkeep? Then waterproof Luxury Vinyl Plank is an excellent choice for low-maintenance, long-lasting flooring. LVP is completely waterproof and resistant to scratches, stains, and climate fluctuations. Homes with a lot of foot traffic, children, and pets are ideal candidates for LVP. The high-definition texture, cost-effectiveness, and speedy installation make vinyl plank a compelling flooring option at a fraction of the cost of genuine hardwood. We provide a wide range of LVP in various hues, textures, lengths, and various widths.
Some of the best areas to install LVP flooring include:
Tile has a long history in the realm of interior design. It's versatile and can be utilized to introduce a vibrant backsplash in your kitchen, form an art-deco focal point on a wall in the living room, or offer long-lasting waterproof flooring in your bathroom. When compared to decorative wall or backsplash tile, tile flooring needs to withstand constant foot traffic, dirty shoes, pet accidents, and more, all while maintaining its beauty.
The good news is that the majority of tile is inherently resistant to water, slips, and stains, which is why most homeowners opt for tile in their kitchens and bathrooms. At Heritage Flooring Company, we offer a large selection of premium marble, ceramic, and other tile materials for your kitchen and bathroom needs.
At Heritage Flooring Company, we're often asked which type of tile is best for a home's bathroom versus kitchen. While no two homeowners will ever have the same needs, ceramic tile is generally great for kitchens, while porcelain is better for bathrooms. Ceramic is the most popular choice for kitchen tile flooring because it's available in a wide range of colors, it's low maintenance, and durable. It's often glazed to make cleaning up spills and stains easy, although it's less hard compared to porcelain tile.
Porcelain tile is commonly used for bathroom tile flooring due to its waterproof nature, trendiness, and cost-effectiveness. It's better for rooms with high moisture levels, as it has a lower water absorption rate compared to ceramic. Depending on the style, porcelain tile can range from richly textured for a non-slip surface to smooth marble tones.
The best course of action when choosing tile is to try and balance functionality and aesthetics. Ultimately, find a tile that matches your personal design taste while meeting your household needs. Having trouble choosing tile for your home? Heritage Flooring staff are trained to help you find the best choice for your home and family. We'd be happy to offer our opinion - just give us a call or visit our showroom to get started.
There are few feelings as comforting and relaxing as digging your toes into a plush, soft carpet after a long day at work. Carpet flooring has been around for decades and is one of the most common and popular choices when it comes to home aesthetics. From high-pile carpet options for maximum comfort to low-pile choices best suited for professional environments, carpet is both versatile and budget-friendly. At Heritage Flooring Company, we carry a select line of premium carpet options in multiple styles & patterns to fit your lifestyle needs.
Wondering why you should consider carpet flooring? Here are some of the biggest benefits that our clients tell us about:
Have you ever lived in an apartment where you could hear everything that the people above you and beside you were doing? Even if you tiptoe through the house, you're making noise. This is especially true if you have tile, vinyl, or hardwood floors in your living spaces. Even socked feet can sound like horse hooves when there's nothing dampening your steps.
Whether you own a multi-story home, a condo, or just have really thin walls, carpets can make sure that you're not disturbing other people in your house. Carpets will also dampen the normal floor sounds like creaks. Old floors often creak, but those creaks are more obvious when you have hardwood floors.
Let's be honest: Purchasing new flooring is a big decision. But if you choose the right carpet, it won't cost as much as installing hardwood floors, which can be quite expensive. While hardwood floors look fantastic, not everyone can afford them. Most folks end up using rugs on their hardwood floors for added comfort, but they can be expensive, too.
In contrast, carpet installation is often less expensive and more affordable. If your budget allows, you can opt for fancier carpets. Whether you prefer something sleek and unobtrusive or you love the look of retro shag carpets, Heritage Flooring offers options that will suit your budget.
Concerned about safety in your home? Consider carpet flooring. If someone in your home has fallen before, you understand how alarming it can be. While carpet won't prevent accidents, it can reduce the impact and provide a softer landing. Carpet is also ideal if you have babies or toddlers. As they learn to walk, toddlers often tumble. With carpet, their falls are less painful.
It's also gentler for crawling babies and those doing tummy time. If you or your children enjoy sitting on the floor, carpet is a practical choice. Why sit on hard surfaces when you can relax on a soft, cushioned carpet? Plus, opting for a rug would mean an additional expense for your flooring.
If you pull up your flooring and find that your floors are not as even as you thought, carpets are a great solution. Uneven floors are very noticeable with hardwood or tiles, but with carpets, you can still feel them, just not see them. The softness of the carpet will also help to minimize the feel of the uneven floor. Carpets in certain colors can also conceal stains. This is one reason why many apartments opt for carpets.
Carpet is an excellent source of warmth for the floor, making it a suitable option for cold bedrooms or plain offices. Additionally, carpet acts as an insulator. The combination of the carpet and its under-padding serves as an extra insulation layer in your home. Depending on the weight and quality of your carpet, it may even contribute to increasing the R-value of your home.
Finding a great flooring company in South Carolina is a little bit like searching for a needle in a haystack. Fortunately, if you're looking for a team of experts to help with a flooring project in your home, you've come to the right place. Since 2018, our goal has been to provide clients with the finest flooring services in our state.
Our team collaborates closely with each client to establish a trusted environment and achieve the perfect balance of style and functionality that customers deserve. In fact, we always try to exceed expectations by going the extra mile for our customers. Whether you need new tile in your bathroom or hardwood flooring in Greenville for your whole home, we pride ourselves on quality work and efficiency. We demonstrate genuine care for our customers and emphasize that our goal is not just to make a sale - it's to assist in any way we can.
Because, as a local flooring company, you're not just our customer. You're our friends and our neighbors. You should be treated with quality service, even if you're just asking a few questions. Contact our office today to learn more about how we can help with your flooring needs, or come by our showroom so we can show you in person.
GREENVILLE, S.C. —Prisma Health has released a statement after a contracted employee was arrested and charged with voyeurism.According to the Greenville County 13th Judicial Circuit Public Index, Enrique Domingo Francisco was arrested on June 30 for voyeurism. He was booked into the Greenville County Detention Center under a $5,000 bond.The South Carolina Code of Laws classifies voyeurism as a person who for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire, views photographs, audio records, vide...
GREENVILLE, S.C. —
Prisma Health has released a statement after a contracted employee was arrested and charged with voyeurism.
According to the Greenville County 13th Judicial Circuit Public Index, Enrique Domingo Francisco was arrested on June 30 for voyeurism. He was booked into the Greenville County Detention Center under a $5,000 bond.
The South Carolina Code of Laws classifies voyeurism as a person who for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire, views photographs, audio records, video records, produces, or creates a digital electronic file, or films another person, without the victim's knowledge and consent.
Prisma Health said Francisco was an employee of one of its vendors.
Prisma Health said it learned of the incident on June 30 and took the matter to Prisma Health Security and law enforcement to conduct an investigation of this vendor and its employee.
Prisma Health released the following statement on Thursday:
"At Prisma Health, the safety and well-being of our patients, team members, and visitors is our highest priority. We take all reports of inappropriate behavior seriously and act swiftly to ensure a safe and respectful environment across all our facilities.On June 30, 2025, Prisma Health learned that one of our vendor’s employees engaged in inappropriate behavior. Prisma Health escalated this matter to Prisma Health Security and law enforcement and is conducting a thorough investigation of this vendor and its employee. Prisma Health values the privacy of our patients, team members and visitors and will take all available actions to protect them. Prisma Health commends the quick and professional actions of our team members and security personnel, whose vigilance and commitment to safety ensured that this matter was addressed swiftly and appropriately.
Prisma Health remains committed to maintaining a safe, secure and respectful environment for everyone in our care."
Prisma Health did not release details of the incident, but Prisma confirmed the incident happened on company property.
The Waterkeeper Alliance has identified a river in the country with the highest levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and it's located in South Carolina.Residents who fish from the Pocotaligo River ― a tributary of the Black River situated between Beaufort and Jasper counties ― may have been exposed to harmful forever chemicals.In an email to The State, attorney Carl Brzo...
The Waterkeeper Alliance has identified a river in the country with the highest levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and it's located in South Carolina.
Residents who fish from the Pocotaligo River ― a tributary of the Black River situated between Beaufort and Jasper counties ― may have been exposed to harmful forever chemicals.
In an email to The State, attorney Carl Brzorad voiced his concerns regarding the public health issue.
"All indications are that industrial dischargers in Sumter are dumping toxic PFAS into the Pocotaligo through the town's wastewater treatment plant, which is not equipped to treat these chemicals. These industrial polluters need to treat their PFAS so that it doesn't poison rivers and fish," he said.
Brzorad also called out the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services' failure to adhere to the Clean Water Act, which can limit wastewater discharges of PFAS, according to EcoWatch.
"DES has never set limits in a discharge permit," he said.
Here's what to know about the Pocotaligo River and key findings from the Waterkeeper Alliance's analysis of U.S. waterways across 19 states.
The Sumter Pocotaligo River WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment system owned and operated by the City of Sumter's Wastewater Division within the Utilities department, serving approximately 51,000 people, according to the Waterkeeper Alliance's PFAS Report Phase II.
The treatment system handles the wastewater from "numerous industrial discharges, including four permitted significant Industrial Users and 20 permitted Categorical Industrial Users."
Treated wastewater is discharged and released into the east branch of the river at an average design flow of 15 MGP. The river also covers up to 171,780 acres of S.C.'s Upper Coastal Plain region.
The EPA EJScreen indicated that 65% of those living within a mile of the Sumter WWTP are people of color. Forty-two percent are low-income individuals.
No, but the river's contamination by PFAS could complicate efforts to establish plants as groundwater supplies diminish, according to EcoWatch.
Sumter WWTP's NPDES permit does not impose any limits on the amount of PFAS the facility discharges into the Pocotaligo River, nor does it establish pretreatment limits to govern PFAS dischargers to the WWTP by industrial dischargers.
EPA's PFAS Analytic Tools lists 11 out of 24 permitted industrial users discharging wastewater to the Sumter Pocotaligo River "operat(ing) in sectors that have been identified as possibly handling, using, or releasing PFAS chemicals," according to the report:
Because the EPA's PFAS Analytic Tools identified 40 facilities within the City of Sumter that operate in PFAS-related sectors, the following are "likely additional unpermitted industrial dischargers contributing to PFAS to the WWTP":
Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com.
A Simpsonville restaurant received the lowest score in Greenville County for June from South Carolina Department of Agriculture health inspectors, who reported grime, grease and flies in the facility.Shortfields on Main Street was inspected on June 18 and received a 70, a C, and upon re-inspection on June 27 was graded 89, an A.Among the findings in th...
A Simpsonville restaurant received the lowest score in Greenville County for June from South Carolina Department of Agriculture health inspectors, who reported grime, grease and flies in the facility.
Shortfields on Main Street was inspected on June 18 and received a 70, a C, and upon re-inspection on June 27 was graded 89, an A.
Among the findings in the original inspection were employee beverages stored on food contact surfaces during active prep, open drinks inside prep coolers stored over open foods and a food handler cutting ready to eat pickles with their bare hands.
A hand sink was used to fill buckets of water, a can opener was soiled with food debris, grime and rust and cutting boards were heavily soiled and deeply scratched.
Multiple cell phones were on cutting boards and the ice machine had pink and black microbial growth inside.
Improper food temperatures were recorded for shredded cheese, cooked noodles, roasted peppers, cooked potatoes, raw shrimp, sausage, raw scallops, chicken, marinated raw chicken, pepperoni, ham, bacon, cooked chicken wings, raw tilapia, cooked lasagna, potato soup, tomatoes and ranch dressing.
No dates were listed on sauces, soup, baked potatoes and deli meats.
Various cold holding units had no way to measure temperature.
The door in the dish machine room was propped open and flies were flying around the kitchen, back prep area and throughout the facility.
Mashed potatoes were not fully covered and stored under rusted chipped shelving.
A walk-in cooler had holes on the sides and no gasket on the door. Prep coolers throughout the kitchen were in disrepair.
Shelving, gaskets, and interiors of a cooler and walk-in were soiled with food, grime, and rust. Ventilation hoods were also heavily soiled with grease and dust and stove burners charred.
Floors, walls, and ceilings throughout the kitchen were heavily soiled with grease, old food, and grime, ceiling vents had grease and dust. Rust and paint chipping was seen.
On re-inspection, the inspector noted the microbial growth was still inside the ice machine, no thermometers in coolers, and the door in the dish machine room did not have an ineffective screen door.
Also, the walk-in cooler door was still in disrepair, stove burners charred and sides of equipment were soiled with grease and old food.
Floors, walls and ceilings similarly were soiled with grease, old food and grime.
Cositas Ricas was graded 73, a C, on a routine inspection and 99 the next day. One point was taken off for a faltering walk in the cooler that was not being used to store food.
The original inspection found staff used a three-compartment sink to wash hands while active ware washing was taking place, staff used a hand sink to dump and rinse containers and raw fish was stored above ready-to-eat products. Also, various foods were not at proper temperatures including sausage, shrimp, milk, cooked chicken, butter and salsa.
Opened ranch dressing was not refrigerated and unpasteurized eggs in the cold holding walk-in cooler were not at the correct temperatures.
Items without date marking were salsa, cooked beans and cooked beef.
A large spray bottle was not labeled and was stored above ready-to-eat food.
Cream cheese was stored in a glove in the walk-in cooler and beans in a bowl. A knife was inside a container holding potatoes and a scoop was buried in ice in the ice machine.
Construction material was stored with food and three mops were not hung up to dry.
Farm Fresh Fast on Church Street in Greenville was visited three times by a health inspector in June, receiving an 83, a B, on June 11, a 90 C on June 20 and 100 on June 30.
The inspector found improper temperatures of vegan chicken burgers, feta cheese, bleu cheese crumbles, red peppers, shredded cucumber, collards.
House-made to-go items were in containers covered and stacked during the cooling process.
A short month and a half after announcing Lefty’s West End Tavern outside Fluor Field, ...
A short month and a half after announcing Lefty’s West End Tavern outside Fluor Field, Table 301 Hospitality has officially opened its first sports bar.
Lefty's is now open at 941 S. Main St., Greenville, on a limited basis and will open fully July 10.
The idea behind Lefty’s is a sports-focused restaurant that complements its location adjacent to the Greenville Drive’s stadium. This means the restaurant is built upon tried-and-true favorites and has ample televisions for sports viewing.
But being part of the Table 301 family also means the new restaurant is thoughtful about the food.
The menu includes familiar items like chicken wings, hot dogs, a smash burger, nachos and a soft pretzel, but with some distinction.
Chicken tenders are brined overnight, then dipped in buttermilk, hand breaded and fried. Nathan’s all-beef hot dogs are topped with homemade chow chow and served with Lusty Monk mustard. Burgers are made with Braveheart beef and topped with caramelized onions. A corn and shrimp fritter is mixed with cornmeal batter that is enhanced not by sugar but with homemade hot honey.
“We are not recreating any recipes and food and menu items here the people don’t love,” Table 301 president and founder Carl Sobocinski said. “We chose the menu items because we think these are the things people love to eat. They’re comfortable, they’re familiar, but we want to make them from scratch, with love.”
No, but a mac and cheese, with its turkey sloppy joe base and toasted garlic breadcrumb topping, is quite unique. The dish pays homage to Shoeless Joe Jackson, the famed Greenville ballplayer. A giant soft pretzel is equally interesting, thanks to a blue crab-cheddar dip alongside.
The 7,5000-square-foot restaurant space housed Liberty Taproom for 15 years and then spent just under a year as The Bellwether Public House.
Lefty’s brings the space back to a sports bar feel, with tables that are easily moved to accommodate small or large groups and ample televisions. The space is geared toward accommodating a business lunch, post-work drink with friends or family dinner out. The outdoor patio area is ample and dog-friendly.
And Lefty’s TVs will show all sports, from soccer to hockey F1 to golf.
Lefty’s grew out of a friendship between Greenville Drive owner Craig Brown and Sobocinski. While the two had discussed some sort of partnership in the space over the years, it was never the right time, Sobocinski said.
In January, Brown again reached out and this time, Sobocinski presented the idea to his team. The excitement he got in response was answer enough.
For now, longstanding Table 301 chef Rodney Freidank is directing much of the menu, though with input and inspiration from other Table 301 team members and other Table 301 restaurants, past and present.
These roots also shine through in the beverage menu. Lefty’s is a place to get High Noon and Bud Light, but you’ll also find Wicked Weed and Sierra Nevada represented. New Realm Brewing’s signature Ralleyville Lager is also on draft.
There are wines by the glass and bottle, and if you’re looking for a way to celebrate your team’s victory, you can with a bottle of Champagne Cristophe Mignon “Foudre” Brut.
While the Lefty’s menu will mostly remain the same, there will be some changing features, and in true sportsman-like fashion, owners have made it a challenge of sorts. The “Tour of Ballpark Dogs” is a monthly hot dog special that pays homage to a different baseball team. Get your special hot dog punch card punched each month, and you can win a prize.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) has a "swamp and a dream," and she wants to bring it to the Palmetto State.In a Tuesday, July 1 post on X, Mace praised "Alligator Alcatraz," a new immigrant detention center in the Florida Everglades championed by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and led by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Mace attached a selfie wearing b...
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) has a "swamp and a dream," and she wants to bring it to the Palmetto State.
In a Tuesday, July 1 post on X, Mace praised "Alligator Alcatraz," a new immigrant detention center in the Florida Everglades championed by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and led by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Mace attached a selfie wearing body armor to the post, which was met with criticism.
"Dear DHS: We've got a swamp and a dream," she wrote on X. "Let's talk. South Carolina's gators are ready. And they're not big on paperwork. If I was Governor, we'd be bringing Alligator Alcatraz to South Carolina."
During a Tuesday tour of the Florida facility, President Donald Trump also made remarks regarding immigrants who tried to escape.
"Snakes are fast but alligators ― we're going to teach them how to run away from an alligator. ... Don't run in a straight line, run like this," Trump said, using his hands to create a zigzag motion, per HuffPost. "You know what, your chances go up about 1%."
Here's what to know about Alligator Alcatraz in Florida.
Alligator Alcatraz is a nickname for a detention center for migrants located in an airfield in the Florida Everglades. According to the New York Times, it will cost $450 million a year to run the holding center, which was "designed to help the Trump administration carry out its immigration crackdown."
Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin with the Department of Homeland Security said Florida can request some reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to keep it operating.
The facility had an initial capacity to hold up to 3,000 detainees, according to DeSantis. This number may expand to 5,000 by early July, when the facility increases in 500 bed increments until it has an estimated 5,000 beds, per PBS News.
The center, featuring over 200 security cameras, 28,000-plus feet (8,500 meters) of barbed wire, and 400 security personnel, was built in just eight days. The first group of immigrants have already arrived at the facility, although it is currently unknown how many are there.
Alligator Alcatraz is surrounded by miles of treacherous swamp land and the Everglades, where an estimated 200,000 alligators roam. Burmese pythons, mosquitoes, and other wildlife can also be found at the remote location.
The harsh conditions of the area are meant to deter immigrants from entering the country and escaping the facility. The location of the center is also prone to flooding due to the area's heavy rains. On Tuesday, the tents at the facility experienced some flooding.
"As lawmakers, we have both the legal right and moral responsibility to inspect this site, demand answers, and expose the abuse before it becomes a national blueprint," said Democratic legislators in a joint statement ahead of trying to visit the center on Thursday, July 3. Access to the facility was denied.
A second migrant detention center is slated to be built in Jacksonville, Florida, with a capacity to contain up to 2,000 detainees. Construction for the new facility at Camp Blanding, a Florida National Guard base, will break ground as early as this week, according to Scripp News.
Several other red states have also expressed an interest in building their own version of Alligator Alcatraz, like Georgia, where a facility will be transformed into the "largest detention facility in the nation," said Garrison Douglas, spokesperson for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. A facility for Arkansas is also underway.
A spokesperson for S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster shared that the administration is "exploring how the Palmetto State's unique assets and resources can be utilized to provide additional and enhanced support in the weeks and months to come."
Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com