A family of five giant trolls arrived! Explore Dix Park like never before taking a whimsical trek through pine groves, nature trails and century-old oaks to find them.
Meet the Trolls at Dix Park: Daddy Bird Eye, perched and watching the world go by; youngsters, Dax, and Dux playing hide-and-seek; and Mother Strongtail resting in the woods while her littlest one, Dix, bravely peers out from the trees nearby.
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.
The Grandmother Tree
Discover a fairytale that extends across North Carolina’s Piedmont, connecting the troll family at Dix Park with two teen siblings who have gone walkabout to Charlotte and High Point.
Begin your quest by reading the Grandmother Tree Poem. Then embark on an adventure to find each of the seven trolls who guard a secret symbol that, when decoded, reveal the location of the enchanted Grandmother Tree.
A Community Effort
The trolls at Dix Park were privately funded by Dix Park Conservancy donors and created in partnership between Dix Park Conservancy, Habitat for Humanity, Raleigh Reclaimed and the City of Raleigh. Nearly 400 volunteers joined Thomas Damo's team for the three-week troll build, logging around 2,200
