The Hilton Trends Report names 2026 the year of the “whycation,” a global movement where travel begins not with a destination, but with a motivation. For North Carolina, travelers need to look no further than public parks for this “why,” as thousands are expected to visit the newly christened Thomas Dambo troll sculptures across the state.
Danish artist and conservationist Thomas Dambo has creatively incorporated his troll sculptures in communities around the world since 2014. His creations now appear in more than 20 countries across five continents.
These giant trolls, a total of 19 in North Carolina, were constructed with reclaimed wood and built by Dambo and his volunteers in a matter of weeks this fall. Five trolls stand proudly in Raleigh, one in High Point, one in Charlotte and 12 in Asheville, N.C., marking the largest collection of Dambo trolls in a single state.
Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit NC, says, “Thomas Dambo’s trolls will bring a message of joy that will resonate across the mountains and throughout the state.”…