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Artist Thomas Dambo creates giant troll sculptures out of recycled materials, and he plans to build more over the next year.
*Updated March 11, 2025
Visit Rhode Island’s Ninigret Park and National Wildlife Refuge in Charlestown, and you’ll find an abundance of birds, wildlife, trails, a nature center, an observatory … and two giant trolls.
Right off the main path, the 16-foot tall wooden troll sculptures are nestled into the trees as part of a worldwide art installation by Danish artist Thomas Dambo.
Ninigret Park Trolls: A Magical Public Art Trail in South County
Experience the wonder of giant trolls at Ninigret Park, where Danish artist Thomas Dambo has created an enchanting public art trail in Rhode Island's South County. These magnificent Ninigret trolls transform a simple walk into an extraordinary adventure through one of New England's most unique outdoor art installations.
World-Renowned Artist Thomas Dambo Creates Epic Troll Trail
World renowned recycle artist Thomas Dambo brings his extraordinary vision to life at Ninigret Park with two massive sculptures: Eric Rocks troll and Greta Granite. These gentle giants deemed ninegret park trolls, crafted entirely from recycled wood and scrap wood, stand as testaments to the power of transforming trash into treasure. Like their counterparts at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Maine, Dambo's trolls inspire visitors to see magic in the woods.
Discover the Hidden Secrets of Ninigret Trolls
The troll trail at Ninigret Park isn't just a simple path—it's a treasure hunt. Erik Rock relaxes peacefully beside Little Ninigret Pond, while visitors follow bright yellow footprints to find the first troll. Meanwhile, Greta Granite awaits in a secret location deeper in the wooded area, surrounded by big stones and tree branches. Each of these two trolls tells a unique story inspired by the park's natural beauty.
A Global Art Project Connecting Five Continents
Danish artist Thomas Dambo has created more than 130 trolls across North America, China, South Korea, and beyond. His mission extends far beyond Rhode Island—these New England trolls are part of an ambitious project spanning five continents. Local volunteers worked alongside Dambo's team, collecting shells, bones, and other materials to craft intricate details like Greta's spectacular necklace.
Future Plans: More Trolls Coming to South County
The current two trolls are just the beginning. New trolls are in development throughout South County and Rhode Island, creating an even more extensive public art trail. Dambo continues scouting locations, seeking perfect spots where his gentle giants can integrate seamlessly with the forest landscape, bringing more magical encounters to the woods of New England.
Visit Ninigret Park today to experience these incredible public art sculptures firsthand. Whether you're from Maine, Denmark, or anywhere in the world, these trolls offer an unforgettable adventure that connects humans with nature, art, and the power of recycling.
Made from recycled wood materials, trolls Erik Rock and Greta Granite sit within the trails, blending into the natural landscape. Big, yellow troll footprints bring visitors to Erik Rock, relaxing by Little Ninigret Pond. A half-mile walk away, past the disc golf course, Greta Granite kneels amongst the overhanging branches and trees, surrounded by boulders. “Everybody can sit on these stones, so it becomes sort of like a ceremonial troll moment,” Dambo says on his YouTube channel, Trash Talk. “Maybe you go and read a story for your kindergarten class, maybe you propose to your husband or your wife, or maybe you just go and have a funky time.”
All told, there are a little over 130 Dambo trolls across North America, South America, Europe, Australia, South Korea, and China. Dambo hopes to construct trolls in every state in the United States. Dambo’s website features a Troll Map, which looks much like an old pirate map, where X’s mark the troll’s locations along with geographic coordinates, photos, names, and bios. Each troll Dambo constructs is predominantly made out of recycled wood, and each tells a story.
Dambo explained the concept behind the Ninigret trolls, which is: Thunderstone.
“A thunderstone is that stone that sits on the top of the highest peak of the highest mountain, when the tectonic plates have pushed the soil together up until that mountain was on a peak before it started eroding and falling apart again. Then that stone is called the Thunderstone,” Dambo says on his YouTube channel. “I’ll find one massive big stone in some forest here in Rhode Island, and that is the one that I would call the thunderstone.”
Dambo partnered with Rhode Island’s South County Tourism Council to determine the best location for the trolls.
“We chose Ninigret Park because of its size, the availability of parking, that there are many different out-of-the-way locations within the park where trolls can hide, and because it’s central to our coast,” says the council’s Faye Pantazopoulos.
While Erik Rock wears a wooden birdhouse charm necklace, Greta Granite is adorned with a more intricate necklace made from shells, bones, and driftwood. Volunteers helped craft the necklace, which is also made from oyster shells donated by a local farm, and art pieces from local artists, including a glass artist and wood turner.
– Photo by Alison L. Mead
“The necklace has something like 100 people actually involved in it,” Dambo says. “It’s cool because it’s involving so many people in the recycle school, and it’s cool because it’s networking. I get to know and meet all of these local artists.”
The head, fingers, and feet of Dambo’s trolls were crafted in his Denmark workshop and then shipped. Dambo and his team, with the help of many volunteers, were in Rhode Island for three weeks this spring. The trolls were completed in May.
“We had more than 170 volunteers, mostly local, and a few that traveled here to work on the trolls because they heard about them and wanted to be involved,” says Pantazopoulos. “They helped with everything from clearing land, cutting down wood and ripping out any nails or screws left in the salvaged wood, to weaving long lengths of bamboo to form Greta’s hair, and stringing shells, stones, bones, sea glass, and more to make Greta’s necklaces.”
“My aim at the moment is to build 1,000 trolls using recycled materials all over the world.”
– Thomas Dambo
Dambo’s mission is clear: Waste No More.
“Our world is drowning in trash while we are running out of natural resources. I spend my life showing the world that beautiful things can be made out of trash,” Dambo says. “My aim at the moment is to build 1,000 trolls using recycled materials all over the world.”
“Thomas and his team really live what they preach,” Pantazopoulos says. “We hired a vegan chef to cook for them, as most are plant-based since it’s better for the planet. We also rented them bicycles to ride as their mode of transportation, as that is more eco-friendly.”
The Trolls are also boosting local tourism.
“In June and July alone, we had over 60,000 people come through Ninigret Park to see the trolls,” says South County Tourism Council’s CEO Lousie Bishop. “More trolls are in development and will be scattered not just in South County, but throughout the state. They are definitely an economic driver for all of Rhode Island.”
“More trolls are in development and will be scattered not just in South County, but throughout the state. They are definitely an economic driver for all of Rhode Island.”
– South County Tourism Council’s CEO Lousie Bishop
Locations are yet to be announced for the other Thunderstone trolls, but the plan is to have six in total, creating a Rhode Island Troll Trail, all inspired by the rocks and natural landscape.
“What I like about stones is that they kind of last forever, unlike wood,” Dambo says. “So no matter how much I wish for it, in a thousand years, all of my trolls will probably be gone. But the stones will be left.”
In February 2025, Dambo announced that he’s scouting for new locations in Rhode Island. His plan is to create two trolls in 2025, then two more in 2026. In Dambo's most recent video, he asks for suggestions on locations near large rocks to honor the Thunderstone. Dambo is also seeking donations of recycled oak wood or barn wood. And volunteers! “If you just want to help with the project in some way or another, you are much welcome,” he says.
For more information about Thomas Dambo and his trolls, or to contact him about volunteering or donating materials, visit thomasdambo.com. Dambo also hosts a YouTube show called Trash Talk. He also shares how to navigate the Troll Map.
