If you visit Charlestown’s Ninigret Park during your South County vacation, you’ll notice it has a couple of new residents. Two giant trolls now make their home in the park, and more will follow across the region in the coming years as the South County Tourism Council works to give people even more reasons to check out coastal Rhode Island.
These trolls are the creation of world-renowned artist Thomas Dambo. Dambo is from Denmark, but his artwork is displayed in 20 countries globally, including 125 trolls now living in parks around the world.
The trolls are relatively easy to find if you know your way around the park. The first is located near the Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center, and the other is off a hiking trail deeper into the park. These statues are a sight to behold and something you’ll want to see on your South County vacation.
Here’s some information on the trolls in Ninigret Park and the Troll Trail that state officials have planned for the future.
What Are These Trolls?
The trolls in Ninigret Park aren’t like the small troll toys you might have had as a child. Rather, these trolls are enormous, making them easily visible from a long way away.
They’re made from recycled wood, and in fact, Dambo is the world’s leading recycling artist, which was important to organizers.
Volunteers began gathering scrap wood from pallets and other items months before artwork construction began, so this project has been in the making for a very long time.
The hope is that these trolls bring even more tourism to South County, particularly in the slower seasons. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens doubled its visitations after installing trolls, and there’s reason to believe these fixtures will have the same impact on Ninigret Park.
The Troll Trail
Ninigret Park’s trolls are South County’s first, but they won’t be the last if all goes according to plan. The region hopes to add a few more trolls along hiking trails throughout the area, giving locals and visitors something to look for as they explore nature.
There’s no timeline for the completion of the Troll Trail yet, but it will feature five trolls in total and some will be as far north as the Blackstone Valley near Providence. This development is something to watch for if you plan to make South County your vacation destination year after year.
Who Is Thomas Dambo
There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of Thomas Dambo before unless you are passionate about recycled artwork. In short, Dambo takes discarded objects and upcycles them into works of art.
He aims to create 1,000 trolls from scrapped materials and place them in parks worldwide. He’s currently a long way from that goal, but new trolls are added annually, and he’s starting to develop a following in the United States.
You can visit his website for more information on his trolls and a map of all the locations he has placed them around the world. Some people make Dambo troll hunting part of their annual vacation, and this trend is likely to grow as he becomes more mainstream.
Book Your Vacation Rental
These trolls are new to the South County landscape, and there will be people visiting this summer with the sole purpose of seeing them in person. As a result, it’s wise to book your vacation rental early to ensure you don’t miss out.
In addition to these trolls, South County has some of the East Coast’s most scenic beaches, a lively dining scene, and outstanding hiking, making it a world-class vacation destination. Get out and see South County and its trolls this summer; you won’t regret your decision.