Discover the Trolls
A family of five giant trolls have arrived! Explore Dix Park like never before taking a whimsical troll trek through pine groves, nature trails and century-old oaks to find them.
Click on the Dix Park Troll Map to view and download.
Created by internationally renowned ‘recycle art activist’ Thomas Dambo, these larger-than-life trolls are both playful and thought-provoking. Built of reclaimed wood and tucked into the trees, the trolls invite visitors to ponder environmental stewardship and the importance of preserving our natural world.
Troll Treks
Embark on a fun, family-friendly exploration of art and nature!
Saturdays, November 8, 15 & 22
10 am – 2 pm
Begin your adventure at the Troll Outpost at Flowers Field to:
- Pick up a map and learn about the Trolls and where to find them
- Take part in a troll-rific craft with The Scrap Exchange (while supplies last)
- Discover more about sustainability and creativity in the community
The Grandmother Tree
Discover a fairytale that extends across the North Carolina Piedmont, connecting the troll family at Dix Park with two teen siblings who have gone walkabout to Charlotte and High Point.
Visit our partners the Dix Park Conservancy to learn more!
Know Before You Go
Dix Park and the trolls are free to visit seven days a week. Parking at Dix Park is also free of charge.
Outdoor spaces in the park are open daily from dawn until dusk.
Facility hours vary. See more about Gipson Play Plaza & the Stone Houses.
The trolls are spread throughout the 308-acres of Dix Park and are located in areas with natural surfaces and uneven ground.
Please note there may be some poison ivy in wooded areas.
We recommend closed-toe, sturdy shoes.
Recommended Parking Lots: Flowers Field, Big Field, Dog Park, Lot A, Lot C, Lot F
Park only in marked spaces in paved and gravel lots.
No parking is permitted on the side of the road or in the grass.
Hop on a free park-and-ride shuttle to get around the park.
Our shuttle route runs close to troll access points, but walking is still necessary to reach each troll.
Shuttle Stops:
Lot A
Big Field Lot
Flowers Field Lot
Lot C
Lot E
House of Many Porches
Shuttle Hours:
Fridays, 10:30 am – 5:30 pm
Saturdays & Sundays, 9:30 am – 7:00 pm
On days when the park is busy, shuttle frequency is impacted and wait times can be longer.
Feel free to touch, hug and/or take pictures with the trolls!
Please no climbing on the trolls – except for Mother's tail.
Dix Park continues to strive to be accessible and welcoming for all visitors, including those with disabilities. Portions of Dix Park have uneven surfaces and are not fully accessible. Accessibility is a primary focus of park improvements and development.
Troll Locations: The trolls are located in areas with natural surfaces and uneven ground.
- Mother & Dix – Located at the Pine Loop Trail. Accessed by crossing through Flowers Field or social trails behind Parking Lot A.
- Dax & Dux – Located in the Big Field pine grove near the Dog Park. Accessed by crossing through grass. Stairs lead into the tree line from the Dog Park side.
- Father – Located on the hillside of the Grove. Access includes steep grass covered terrain.
Parking: ADA parking spaces are available in all paved parking lots.
Shuttles: Shuttle buses are not equipped with wheelchair lifts. Our shuttle route runs close to troll access points, but crossing natural areas is still necessary to reach each troll.
Restrooms: ADA temporary restrooms are located at Magnolia Room and the Big Field. Indoor restrooms are located at the Stone Houses, House of Many Porches, and Gipson Play Plaza.
Dix Park Staff at 919-996-3255 or info@dixpark.org
FAQs
They are considered long-term but temporary, they should last approximately 10 years.
Built of natural materials and exposed to the NC climate, the Trolls are designed to eventually degrade. That said, with careful maintenance and love, we hope the Trolls will be enjoyed by park-goers for many years.
The Dix Park Trolls were created by Thomas Dambo, an internationally acclaimed artist and environmental storyteller. Based on a farm in the Danish countryside, Thomas began his creative life building toys, costumes, and treehouses out of recycled materials—skills taught by his parents. He holds a degree in Interactive Design from Kolding Design School and is now one of the world’s leading voices in the upcycling movement. His stated mission is simple but profound: “Waste No More.” Through large-scale, whimsical trolls made entirely from repurposed materials, he shows the world that what’s discarded can still hold beauty, meaning, and magic.
The trolls were built by the artist team along with volunteers on-site at Dix Park. Community participation is a foundational part of Thomas Dambo’s process.
Each troll is constructed from reclaimed wood from barns and fences, salvaged pallets, decommissioned barrels and fallen branches, transforming “trash into something beautiful.”
The Trolls at Dix Park are possible by generous gifts to the Dix Park Conservancy.