Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Park is about to gain a whimsical and environmentally minded twist: giant troll sculptures crafted from reclaimed wood, arriving in fall 2025. The Dix Park Conservancy announced that a “family of five trolls” will soon call the park home as part of a larger public art initiative. Two of these will become permanent North Carolina installations, making this the artist’s largest U.S. project to date.

Why trolls? Far from folklore villains, these wooden giants are designed to spark wonder, encourage exploration, and inspire reflection on recycling, nature, and how we treat the planet. In true community spirit, the trolls are being built with the help of local carpenters and volunteers. The heads, hands, and feet are often fabricated in the artist’s workshop in Denmark and then shipped to each site for final assembly.

Beginning November 15, 2025, another exhibit called “Trolls: A Field Study by Thomas Dambo” will debut at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, featuring twelve interactive troll sculptures through mid-February 2026. Additional permanent trolls are also planned for High Point and Charlotte, creating a connected “Troll Trail” across the state. Dix Park will host an Artist Talk and Book Signing with Thomas Dambo on October 23, 2025.

About the Artist: Thomas Dambo

Thomas Dambo is a Danish sculptor and “recycle art activist” known for creating large-scale troll sculptures from reclaimed wood and discarded materials. Over the past decade, he has built more than 120 trolls across 20 countries. His work encourages people to see value in what others call waste, promoting sustainability and imagination in equal measure.

Dambo’s trolls are part of his ongoing global project often called “Trail of a Thousand Trolls.” Each piece is built from salvaged materials like pallets, old fences, and scrap lumber. His philosophy is simple: make something magical from what the world throws away. Local volunteers often help build the trolls, making each installation a community effort that ties people directly to the artwork.

Where Else You Can Find Thomas Dambo’s Trolls

• Isak Heartstone – Breckenridge, Colorado: One of Dambo’s most famous trolls, built in 2018 and later relocated due to its popularity.

• Rita the Rock Planter – Victor, Colorado: A troll who “plants” rocks in honor of the area’s mining history.

• Northwest Trolls: Way of the Bird King – Washington and Oregon: A multi-site project connecting several trolls across the Pacific Northwest.

• Trolls: Save the Humans – Filoli Gardens, California: A temporary installation encouraging environmental awareness.

• Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens – Maine: A beloved collection of trolls hidden among the gardens.

• Ulla – Santiago, Chile: A towering female troll installed in Parque de la Familia.

• Giants of Mandurah – Western Australia: Six trolls across Mandurah and one in Subiaco.

• Bernheim Forest – Kentucky: Several trolls nestled in the trees of a nature preserve.

• Two Trolls at Ninigret Park – Charlestown, Rhode Island: Another part of Dambo’s U.S. series.

You can explore the full “Trollmap” of global locations at thomasdambo.com, which highlights every troll installation around the world.

Why It Matters for Raleigh

These installations bring more than art. They create tourism, teach sustainability, and remind visitors that beauty can be found in what others discard. With Raleigh’s new trolls joining those in Asheville, Charlotte, and High Point, North Carolina is becoming a national hub for Thomas Dambo’s eco-art.

The Dix Park trolls will encourage visitors to wander, reflect, and reconnect with nature—an ideal match for a city that values both creativity and community. Whether you’re a longtime resident or new to the Triangle, these giant wooden trolls promise to add a sense of magic to everyday life in Raleigh.

If you’d like to learn more, visit dixpark.org or thomasdambo.com for upcoming details and volunteer opportunities.