If you are a gamer, outdoor enthusiast, or fan of fairy tales, you will appreciate visiting the giant trolls in Detroit Lakes (DL). The storyline here is a slight twist to a version of Alice in Wonderland. Thomas Dambo, the curator, spins a folk tale about one of the giant trolls, Alexa Elixer. Who breaks a curse that binds humans. Hearing the story of the five trolls and the rabbit, all made from recycled materials, piqued my curiosity to revisit DL. Marcy joined me on the trip and was primarily excited about this area’s biking, hiking, and paddling opportunities. But after seeing the first troll, Alexa’s story grabbed her attention, and she was hooked. She found these magnificent troll creatures in a land of 412 lakes inspiring. Especially after seeing the Golden Rabbit, it was like a shot of happiness straight to the brain. Enjoy the adventure!
Meet Alexa Elixer and the other giant trolls.
Start your troll-hunting adventure at the city park by the lake, and remember your camera. Overlooking the mile-long sandy beach on the north shore of Little Detroit Lake is Alexa Elixir. Stopping here first, she will share her story and offer clues to help you with your troll-hunting adventure. Look at her book while glancing at Alexa’s unique features and surroundings. Remember to take a photo of the map. The map shows the location of the other four giant trolls and will help you translate the symbols and find the Golden Rabbit. Hint! As you visit each troll location, note the numbers and symbols on each troll’s necklace and below Alexa’s arm at the three portal sites. After collecting all the symbols, use the image in Alexa’s book corresponding to the letters in the troll alphabet. This will help you find the Golden Rabbit.
Meet Ronny Funny Face
When you reach Ronny on the paved trail, about a quarter-mile from Dunton Locks County Park, you will smile and want to take a selfie with him. While visiting, beware! He is “Always on the lookout for a laugh. Ronny wants the whole world to smile,” and you will understand why after your visit.
Meet Barefoot Frida
Reaching Frida is a little more of a challenge. She is located on the eastern side of town, in an area being developed into Ortenstone Gardens. At this time, you will need to park along the road and hike an undulating limestone path for a third of a mile to see her. It’s well worth the walk, as “An outdoorsy type, she loves to build small challenges for her friends in nature.”
Meet Jacob Everear
If you are coming from the Twin Cities, you may want to stop in Frazee and visit Jacob before arriving at your lodging destination in Detriot Lakes. Jacob is on the north side of town in the park, along the Otter Tail River. And, “Because he loves to listen, his ears have grown-and-grown. Do you have a story to tell?”
To reach Jacob, you will need to hike about a third of a mile on the National North Country Scenic Hiking Trail from Wannigan Regional Park.
Meet Long Leif
The last of the giant trolls you will visit before finding the Golden Rabbit is Leif. He is located in the Detroit Mountain Recreational Area, south of the mountain biking trails and ski area. Reaching him, follow the dirt trail about a third-of-a-mile hike south of the Tubing Lodge parking lot. Standing approximately 40 feet tall, Leif is “a friend of trees, has learned their secret of growth, and has become as tall as the best of them!”
More clues can help to find the Rabbit
Check out these three Magic Mirror portals. Each has Alexa’s arm sticking out, showing additional clues to find the Golden Rabbit.
Portal One is easy to find in downtown Detroit Lakes at the Becker County Museum & Historical Holmes Theater. It is located at 806 Summit Avenue, next to the Detriot Chamber & Visitors Center. Here, at the chamber find more fun things to do while visiting the area.
Portal Two is in downtown Perham, MN, on the west side of the City Hall Building, Turtle Park, at 147 E. Main Street. You will also find the Chamber office on the corner, the perfect place to ask about the world’s giant turkey. If you are coming from the Twin Cities, you may want to stop here before you reach Detroit Lakes.
Portal Three is in downtown Fargo, ND, in Roberts Alley, at 2nd Avenue and North Broadway.
Finding the Golden Rabbit
The rabbit sculpture is the grand finale of the troll story for Project 412. Visiting the five giant trolls and some portals, hopefully, you found the necessary symbols. The hike to the Rabbit is about a half-mile from the parking lot. The last section of the trail turns up a steep hill and narrows into a rugged single-track. This stretch of the trail to the Golden Rabbit, is the most challenging, but an accomplishment will add to the experience!
Like the giant trolls, the rabbit’s frame is recycled wood. It holds a torch made from an old gas lantern and PCV pipe. Motorcycle helmets were used for the rabbit’s eyes, windshield wipers for whiskers, and cut-up plastic crates for the yellow skin shell. See the curator’s YouTube video about collecting all the recycled material for the DL Troll Project.
A memorable adventure for any bucket list
Like a photo showing a colorful rainbow or the magic of the Northern Lights. The pictures here, or those taken with a cell phone, will not compare to seeing the Project 412 Troll Exhibit in person. I wonder what they will look like in the winter month, maybe for a holiday selfie. Consider putting the DL Trolls on your bucket list and visiting soon.
About giant troll curator Thomas Dambo,
As an International Recycle Artist, this is his career’s biggest and most ambitious exhibition. “I am so happy to have been given so much trust in my artistic decisions and support from Project 412 and the Detroit Lakes community. I am very excited to show you what is being stirred up.”
On a trash-to-treasure mission, Thomas Dambo spent his childhood finding new uses for objects rescued from trash bins, the local dump, and recycling sites. He’s been a hip-hop musician, a YouTuber, and a street artist. He created his first troll at a Denmark festival in 2014. Commissioned trolls have taken him across Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and now Detroit Lakes.
About Project 412
Detroit Lakes’ art-forward nonprofit Project 412 (named for the 412 lakes within 25 miles of the city) orchestrated Minnesota’s first troll project after a board member saw one of Dambo’s creations in Colorado. Initially, just a few trolls were considered, Then installation and support grew. Project 412 helped Dambo find the giant troll locations and coordinated hundreds of people who signed up for 472 work shifts to build the trolls’ bodies.