Charlotte’s sprawling 1,200-acre River District has officially unveiled the largest troll installation in North America.
The massive public art piece, titled “Big Pete with the Big Feet,” was created by Thomas Dambo, a world-renowned Danish artist celebrated for transforming recycled materials into massive, whimsical sculptures. “Big Pete” is one of seven trolls in Dambo’s largest North American installation to date — all located in North Carolina.
“I build my trolls from the things most people throw away – scraps of wood, broken branches, forgotten pieces of the world – and I give them new life,” said Thomas Dambo, artist and creator of Big Pete with the Big Feet. “Big Pete is a gentle reminder that every step we take leaves a mark. At The River District, surrounded by trails, trees, and the Catawba River, he invites everyone to slow down, explore, and rediscover the beauty that’s already around them. My hope is that people who meet him feel inspired to care for the planet, for each other, and for nature we often overlook.”
Charlotte’s River District joins Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Park and High Point as part of a permanent statewide “troll family,” linking the three cities through art, storytelling, and sustainability. Each sculpture reflects Dambo’s mission to turn waste into wonder, using reclaimed wood and scrap materials to promote environmental awareness through creativity.
With more than 100 trolls across five continents, Dambo’s work draws an estimated 4.5 million visitors annually and has been featured by National Geographic, NPR, BBC, and Lonely Planet. North Carolina now hosts the largest U.S. collection of his trolls — five in Raleigh, one in High Point, and one in Charlotte’s River District.
Additionally, the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville will open a temporary exhibition, “Trolls: A Field Study,” on November 15, featuring 12 interactive trolls designed to inspire curiosity and environmental reflection.
Visitors can find “Big Pete” by taking Exit 6 (West Blvd) off I-485, then following River District Drive to Crescent River Road. The installation is free and open to the public beginning November 8, with parking available along the street.
You can find out more info on the ever growing Trollmap here.
