S.C. welcome centers cut back hours

Following in the footsteps of its northern neighbor, South Carolina has decided to close its official state welcome centers two days a week starting Jan. 13 to save money.

The nine welcome centers, which provide visitors with information about nearby attractions and hotels, will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday, closing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, according to Marion Edmonds, spokesman for the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

Restrooms and vending machines will still be open all week.

One welcome center, in Landrum, will adopt the new schedule today, a week earlier.

Last month, North Carolina announced it would shut its welcome centers one day a week to save money.