Hidden among North Carolina’s trees and trails, a family of gentle giants has taken up residence. These aren’t your typical park sculptures—they’re towering trolls with personalities as big as their wooden frames, and they’re part of the largest installation of Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s work ever created in North America.
Seven permanent troll sculptures now call North Carolina home, scattered across Raleigh, High Point, and Charlotte. But finding them isn’t as simple as following a map. True to his philosophy that “the joy is in the discovery,” Dambo has made these creatures shy, preferring to be stumbled upon rather than signposted. Five trolls inhabit Raleigh’s Dix Park, while one each has ventured to High Point and Charlotte, creating a treasure hunt across the state’s Piedmont region.
The trolls aren’t just standing around—they’re on a mission. Each sculpture carries a unique clue pointing toward their ultimate purpose: protecting the legendary Grandmother Tree, a mystical ancient tree yet to be discovered by humankind. Visitors who encounter all seven members of this quirky family might just piece together the mystery…