Three More Giant Trolls Complete the Rhode Island Troll Trail

One of the trolls, Erik Rock, at its home in Ninigret Park. Photo by Thomas Dambo.

More trolls have taken over the Ocean State.

If you haven’t had the chance to encounter the original set down in Charlestown yet, don’t be alarmed: They’re not the oversized, dim-witted ogres you may remember from fairy tales and The Hobbit. Rather, these trolls are gentle giants, hulking creatures crafted from scrap wood and old wooden pallets who lure visitors with their magical presence and playful poses.

They’re the work of Danish artist Thomas Dambo.  Dambo made his first troll — Hector the Protector — on the Puerto Rican island of Culebra in 2014. South County Tourism Council President Louise Bishop read an article about him in 2019 and wondered if they could bring something similar to Rhode Island.

“I was enamored,” Bishop, who is passionate about public art, told us back in 2024. “When I first saw the Thomas Dambo Trolls at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, I knew they were just what South County needed as an attraction. I love that they’re eco-conscious and so unique and will be an additional economic driver for the state. They will put Rhode Island, not just South County, on the map.”

And that they did. Two trolls, Erik Rock and Greta Granit (see some BTS from their construction below), have called Ninigret Park home since May of 2024, in what Bishop correctly predicted would be just the beginning of a public art trail that will stretch throughout the state.

Iver Mudslider in North Kingstown. Photo by Pam Smith

Now, three new troll sculptures have set up in residence in Rhode Island: Young Boulder of Browning Mill Pond in the Arcadia Management Area, Iver Mudslider of North Kingstown’s Ryan Park and Mrs. Skipper of East Providence.

“I am super happy to be back in Rhode Island and to add three more sculptures to my Thunderstone saga,” says Dambo. “All three locations are absolutely amazing, with stunning nature and beautiful wonders, so it is a real pleasure to be back to expand the exhibition.”

Bishop is thrilled to have her vision finally become a reality.

“We’re excited that these works of art will greet visitors to the state and guide them from north to south to explore all that Rhode Island has to offer,” she says. “It takes a village to raise a troll and we’re grateful for the assistance from RI Commerce, DEM and our partners in North Kingstown and Blackstone Valley for helping us complete the troll trail. And a special thank you to all the volunteers who helped do the actual building.”

Each of the lucky towns to welcome a troll as a new neighbor are just as pleased with the results. DEM Director Terry Gray says Young Boulder’s addition to Richmond’s forests “perfectly aligns with DEM’s mission as Rhode Island’s lead environmental steward,” due to the sculpture’s sustainability and creative reuse efforts. Meanwhile, Chelsea Dumas-Gibbs, the Recreation Director of the Town of North Kingstown, was inspired to bring Iver Mudslider to her neck of the woods after realizing that “the sense of community in the build, and the magic of the trolls’ stories was a unique opportunity to offer to our community.” Finally, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council couldn’t resist rounding out the troll trail.

“Working with Dambo’s team has been a unique and eye-opening experience,”  says Executive Director of the council, James Toomey. Blackstone Valley Tourism Council sees this installation as another major positive change in the City of East Providence. The art piece that Thomas and his team created is astonishing! It is one more exciting feature in the city that residents can truly be proud of. We welcome travelers from near and far to come and find “Mrs. Skipper” making her best attempt to hide along the East Providence shore.”

More than just art or a fun tourist attraction, these sculptures help spread Dambo’s message to be good stewards of our planet by reusing, recycling and cutting down waste. Dambo believes trash is treasure, and he strives to share that philosophy with the world through his art. One hundred of Dambo’s trolls are scattered throughout the globe in seventeen countries. One sits on the banks of a lake, lazily fishing; two lie on their backs, gazing up at the stars; one sits cross-legged, hugging the trunk of a tree; and some, like Hector the Protector, look out to the sea, holding a lantern to light the way for visitors.

Dambo visited Ninigret back in 2023 to look at the area and come up with ideas for the trolls. (All of his trolls have back stories and lore associated with them.)

“My wife comes from New England, so I really love the area,” Dambo said. “I came last year for a site visit, I got to see so much of the beautiful area. I have a good idea for an installation with some really big stones. And if I have one obsession, it is that I like big stones.”

Bishop agrees that the Charlestown park makes a prime location with its 227 acres, open space and plenty of parking. She envisions a grand entryway, maybe decorated with greenery, with local shells and stones lining the paths to the statues. Pamphlets with QR codes would show the art trail and other points of interest along the way. Bishop has already reached out to Bob Billington, president and CEO of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, who’s also on board.

“Our whole goal is to start in South County and move into the state and up to Blackstone Valley,” she says. “We hope it will create an economic driver of people coming for tourism and overnights.”

Artist Thomas Dambo. Photo courtesy of Thomas Dambo.

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