At one time, Mac Watson didn’t believe he would be able to get into college, but after being among a select few, he was accepted in the Carolina LIFE program. 

Now a graduate with five years experience in the hospitality industry, Watson loves his latest job.  

Sitting in the open, historic and welcoming lobby of one of Columbia’s newest hotels, Watson said this is one of the nicest places he has ever seen. 

“Before I got this job, I was a dishwasher at another hotel, and here I get to work at the front desk,” Watson said. “So I am thankful for this opportunity to be able to work my way up.” 

Watson’s opportunity was made possible by the recently opened boutique hotel in downtown Columbia: “The Lantern.” 

The Lantern is partnering with the University of South Carolina’s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sports Management as well as Carolina LIFE, a program for students who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.   

“We knew going into this hotel that there was an opportunity,” said Senior Vice President of Openings and Transitions Ron Glancy. “We immediately reached out to Carolina LIFE and said we want to do this hotel. We want to partner with you. We want to hire folks that are alumni as well as current students.” 

Carolina LIFE is founded on individualization and inclusion based on what a student needs. LIFE stands for “learning is for everyone” and gives students a certificate of completion. The four-year program allows students to get academic instruction along with career education and training. 

“Carolina LIFE is a great opportunity for students with disabilities to get into college,” Watson said. “I thought I had zero chance of getting in. But I became one of not too many students to get accepted in 2018.” 

Watson said he’s glad to be building his resume along with continuing to help people, especially his co-workers who also have disabilities. 

The 59-room hotel used to be the old Columbia Fire Department Headquarters at 1001 Senate St., across from the Monterrey Mexican Restaurant. 

The building opened in 1951 and closed in 1995 and has been searching for a new use since. 

“The Lantern is a special project in so many ways,” Glancy said. “With the historic, adaptive reuse of this old fire station, that might have just been torn down. We’ve been able to give it a second life.” 

The hotel has a two-story building with huge roll doors at the lobby. Next door is six-story fire tower that was used to train firefighters. The tower includes a three-floor suite that has two bedrooms, with a game room on the highest floor that has a direct view of the Statehouse. 

The Florence-based Raines Co. develops, owns and manages hotels. Glancy said this project gives Raines the opportunity to do what it does well, combining a hotel with a purpose and a mission that helps people in the special needs community. 

Sophomore Carolina LIFE student Sam McOwen has many roles in his new job. He said he cleans the lobby, whether that is vacuuming, cleaning the tables or windows and taking out the trash. 

“I’m happy to work here,” McOwen said. “This is an amazing opportunity. My favorite part about working here is working with other people with disabilities.” 

Carolina LIFE employees are also laundry attendants and dishwashers. Hotel management really wants the students to work the front desk. 

“Our goal is to have them at the front desk, to welcome people when they come in, because they are incredible ambassadors for the hotel,” Glancy said. “When people come in and see their energy and enthusiasm, that’s what it’s all about.” 

Glancy said they call Carolina LIFE students “SATs,” which stands for “special ability team” members.

Assistant General Manager Quentin McElveen said The Lantern has eight SAT students and eight students from the hospitality school.

The hotel’s plan was to have more than 30% of the associates be SATs. They are at 35% now, achieving the objective. 

The Lantern will not be the final LIFE stop for the Raines Co. The company is partnering with Winthrop University LIFE to open another hotel in Rock Hill toward the end of 2026.  

It doesn’t stop there either. Glancy said Raines wants to open as many “Lantern Hotels” around as many LIFE programs as possible.  

“I see us being able to open about two Lanterns a year, going into cities all over the place,” Glancy said. “It’s not too far of a stretch to say one day there will be 50-100 Lantern Hotels across the country that partner with LIFE programs.”  

Glancy said he has opened 20 hotels across his career, usually a “normal, roadside Hampton Inn” or a Courtyard or a Marriott. He said this one feels special. 

“This hotel has a heart that’s different than any hotel,” Glancy said. “I love coming here and interacting with the associates. I love patting them on the back. I love smiling and laughing and joking with them. That’s something I don’t get at every hotel.”