Thomas Dambo’s North Carolina Trolls

Somewhere in the woods, something big is stirring.
Not Bigfoot. Not a cryptid. Something more surprising — and a lot friendlier.

This fall and winter, North Carolina becomes home to a new kind of legend: the trolls of Thomas Dambo, a Danish recycle-artist who turns junk wood into jaw-dropping giants. Seven of them will take permanent root across Raleigh, High Point, and Charlotte, while Asheville plays host to twelve “baby trolls” on a limited-time visit.

They’re huge. They’re whimsical. And if you believe the whispers in the trees, they’re watching you — but only to study your species.

Welcome to the troll hunt.

Raleigh

The Heart of the Troll Kingdom

Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh is about to transform into a 300-acre fairytale.
Five trolls are coming, their exact locations hidden like treasure. Visitors are invited to wander, wonder, and maybe trip over a troll’s enormous wooden toe.

These aren’t sculptures you view; they’re sculptures you discover. One might peek from the woods, another recline near a meadow, waiting for someone curious enough to notice.

If you’ve ever wanted an excuse to ditch your phone and follow your inner kid through the park, this is it.
Pro tip: Bring comfy shoes, snacks, and patience — magic takes its time revealing itself.

High Point

The Lone Giant

In High Point, one solitary troll will stand guard — part art, part folk hero, entirely selfie material.

Don’t underestimate the lone wolf (or troll). He’s crafted with the same care and imagination as his bigger family, and he’s poised to become High Point’s most talked-about resident.

It’s fitting, really. A city known for its design legacy gets a new icon — one made of discarded pallets and pure creativity.
Local tip: Grab a coffee afterward; rumor has it, the cafés are dreaming up troll-themed drinks. “Espresso the Giant,” anyone?

Charlotte

The Queen City’s Hidden Guardian

Somewhere in Charlotte, a troll is preparing to make its debut — and like any great mystery, the location is top secret.

In a city known for its skyline, this one’s staying low — close to the earth, close to the roots. Wherever it lands, it’ll serve as a reminder that there’s still wildness tucked between the high-rises and breweries.

Once it’s unveiled, pull up Thomas Dambo’s Trollmap to pinpoint it. Then take the long way home. Who knows what else you’ll discover when you’re not in a hurry?

Asheville

The Field Study

From November 15, 2025, to February 17, 2026, the North Carolina Arboretum becomes troll central.

Twelve “baby trolls,” each about eight feet tall, will scatter through the gardens — not to frighten travelers, but to study humans. (Which, let’s be honest, might take them a while.)

Visitors get a treasure map to find them all. Six trolls will even glow among the Arboretum’s Winter Lights display through early January. It’s like walking into a fairytale written by a sustainability major.

For Asheville, still rebuilding after Hurricane Helene, these trolls are more than art. They’re a signal — that the mountains are open, resilient, and ready for wonder again.

Built from Trash, Brought to Life by Imagination

Every troll begins as waste — wooden pallets, fallen branches, forgotten scraps — and ends up as a symbol of what humans can do when they decide to build instead of throw away.

Volunteers from each city help assemble the trolls, turning public art into community storytime. Dambo himself says it best:

“This isn’t just about art. It’s about inviting people to step into the story, to leave behind the digital world for a few hours, and make something real with twigs, twine, and teamwork.”

Somewhere between sustainability and sorcery, that’s exactly what he’s done.

Plan Your Troll Quest

Once all the giants are revealed, you can track them on Dambo’s global Trollmap — a living atlas of wooden wonders.

Plot your own route

Start in Raleigh for the five Dix Park trolls → stop in High Point for the solo sculpture → cruise through Charlotte for a hidden gem → finish in Asheville, where the baby trolls await.

Expect local businesses to go full troll mode with themed menus, events, and merch. (We’re rooting for Troll-shaped cookies.)

The Magic of Being Found

Thomas Dambo has built more than 150 trolls worldwide, but he doesn’t call them installations — he calls them discoveries.

Maybe that’s the real secret here. The trolls aren’t hiding from us. They’re waiting for us to remember how to look.

So grab a map, a sense of curiosity, and maybe a flashlight. The giants of North Carolina are waiting.

And if you listen closely, you might just hear them laughing.