These Whimsical Wooden Trolls Invite Adventurers to Go On a Trollhunt to Find Them

As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Thomas Dambo’s recycled sculptures in the form of trolls are taking over the U.S. and the world, encouraging troll enthusiasts and adventurers alike to go on a scavenger hunt in nature to find them. 

Dambo's Call to Action

Dambo grew up digging in trash cans of Copenhagen, Denmark, where he found the real treasure in other people’s trash. His fascination and love for recycled materials led him to paint and place more than 7,000 birdhouses around Denmark and eventually around the world. As a teen, Dambo channeled his love for trash into rap songs, and as a graffiti and street artist.

He views trash as an opportunity, rather than something to discard and never be used again. These trolls made out of recycled materials are a prime example of turning trash into art, and encourage others to be more mindful in their waste practices.

The Army of Trolls

Dambo’s trolls, of which he has 200 located around the world, currently inhabit over 20 states and are moving into even more as the days go by. The so-called Trollmap showcases where each troll is making their mark, and contains details about their name, where they’re located, when they were constructed, and a rhyme or two about each one. 

The rhymes echo Dambo’s earlier career as a rapper, and capture each of the trolls unique personalities and the space that they occupy. For instance, the Guardians of the Seeds trolls located in Boothbay, Maine are described as “Birk had roots, Roskva was wide as the trunks. Gro was like the leaves, breathing life with her lungs. Soren, like branches, would wave in the wind, and Lilja like the flowers each summer would spring.”

Dambo’s trolls and their clever names hint at environmental shortcomings, or ponder a deeper question as to the use of natural resources. Malin’s Fountain troll in Austin, Texas seems to be sitting in deep thought while holding a bowl forward to the sky, alluding to what could be depleted rainfall. Rita the Rock Planter troll located in Victor, Colorado tells the story of her mountainside being full of holes from the humans in search for their “shiny rock,” of which Rita the Rock Planter now intends to repair.  

Other notable trolls in the U.S. include the Mama Mimi troll at the Rendezvous Park in Jackson Hole whose leg lounges across a stream; the Mama Rosa troll in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, who carries the city’s old lamp posts; and Mama Zelda’s Hair troll in Huntsville, Alabama whose hair tangles together to form a maze around where she's sitting. And California hosts the only indoor troll sculpture in Solvang.

Fittingly, Dambo has a dream called the “Trolls of America” where he aims to form a trail of these magnificent sculptures in each of the 50 U.S. states with the help of his hardworking team and passionate volunteers.

Going on a Trollhunt for Big Pete

Dambo, or the self-proclaimed “trash” artist’s latest troll installation, Big Pete with the Big Feet, is located in The River District of West Charlotte. The River District is designed with sustainability at the forefront, and has been recognized for its commitment to preserving the nearby tree canopy, open green spaces, and waterfront access to the Catawba River. Big Pete is an extension of this district's mission to preserve natural spaces while inviting community and opportunities for art.

Part of this 65-foot troll’s allure is that he’s “in love with everything around his feet.” This troll joins the family of trolls in North Carolina, five of which are in Raleigh's Dix Park including Big Pete’s parents Mother Strong Tail and Daddy Bird Eye, and one of Big Pete’s siblings, Little Sally, going up in High Point. All of these trolls are centered around the concept of the grandmother tree or the “beacon of the forest,” of which the other trolls grow aimlessly.

However, to actually reach the mysterious grandmother tree, adventurers have to correctly input each of the special markings that are listed on the trolls in North Carolina into the Trollmap to get the answer. The Trollmap provides an approximate destination of the tree, but you'll have to search in nature to find it.

This journey could take you down some hidden paths that you would've never thought to explore if it weren't for the trolls. Once you find the trolls, search for a hidden symbol on its necklace in order to insert it into the Trollmap and mark it as found, and continue on with your trollhunt discoveries. It’s a scavenger hunt that invites curiosity, exploration of nature, and reflection on the sacredness of the environment and society’s impact on it.

Turning Waste Into Opportunity

Dambo entrusts explorers to be at the center of the action and decide what comes next in terms of protecting the environment and its life-giving qualities. His trolls are meant to form an army to protect the exact woods where they come from and reside, as he likes to call the “power of doing something positive.” 

Big Pete joins Young Boulder and Iver Mudslider in Rhode Island as the newest additions to his troll collection in 2025.

Keep your eyes peeled and embark on the trollhunt of a lifetime. To get an overview of where Dambo’s trolls might be hiding in your backyard, visit Trollmap.com. For more sustainable travel ideas, check out these green travel destinations and tips and the Only In Your State's itinerary planner.