Giant Trolls Are Taking Over The Adirondacks This Summer
A global art phenomenon arrives in Tupper Lake.
Thomas Dambo Sculpture in Wulong, China. Photo courtesy Thomas Dambo.
This summer, one of the world's most recognizable outdoor art experiences is making its Adirondack debut.
Beginning June 1 and continuing through October 31, 2026, TROLLS: Save the Humans transforms The Wild Center in Tupper Lake into an immersive outdoor exhibition featuring six giant troll sculptures created by internationally renowned recycle artist Thomas Dambo.
At first glance, it may sound like an unexpected fit for the Adirondacks. Giant folklore-inspired creatures made from reclaimed wood wandering the grounds of a natural history center? Yet the more closely one looks, the more the exhibit feels as though it was designed specifically for this landscape.
The Adirondacks have long attracted people searching for a deeper connection with nature. Dambo's trolls happen to be eight-foot-tall reminders of the same idea.
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One of Dambo’s trolls in Boothbay, Maine.
The bigger story isn't about trolls.
The Adirondacks are experiencing a growing appetite for experiences that blend outdoor recreation, art, and environmental awareness.
Travelers increasingly seek destinations that offer more than a scenic overlook or a hiking trail. They want memorable experiences that spark curiosity, encourage exploration, and provide something they can't easily find elsewhere.
That's precisely why TROLLS: Save the Humans has generated attention around the world.
Dambo's sculptures have appeared in forests, parks, and nature preserves across Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Visitors often travel considerable distances to find them. Social media certainly helps, but the appeal goes deeper than a good photo opportunity.
His trolls tell stories. They encourage people to slow down, wander, and pay attention to the natural world around them.
In a region where conservation remains central to both identity and economy, that message lands particularly well.
What a day with the trolls actually feels like.
Visitors won't encounter the trolls all at once.
Instead, they'll discover them gradually as they explore The Wild Center's network of trails, boardwalks, and outdoor exhibits.
One moment, you're walking beneath towering pines. The next, a giant wooden face appears through the trees.
Children tend to spot them first. Adults often stop in their tracks moments later.
The Wild Center’s 114-acre campus located in Tupper Lake, NY, in the Adirondacks.
The six sculptures are spread throughout the campus, creating something that feels part treasure hunt, part art installation, and part nature walk. The full route covers approximately two miles and encourages visitors to explore sections of The Wild Center they might otherwise overlook.
Along the way, the exhibit introduces themes of recycling, stewardship, creativity, and environmental responsibility without feeling preachy.
That's one of Dambo's strengths. He understands that people absorb ideas more readily when they're wrapped in wonder.
Why Thomas Dambo matters.
In the contemporary art world, Thomas Dambo occupies an unusual niche.
The Danish artist has become internationally known for transforming discarded materials into monumental public art. Long before sustainability became a marketing buzzword, Dambo was building installations from reclaimed wood and recycled materials.
Today, more than 100 of his troll sculptures inhabit forests, parks, and public spaces around the world.
His work succeeds because it combines craftsmanship with accessibility. Visitors don't need an art history degree to appreciate a giant troll peering out from the woods.
The sculptures invite interaction, conversation, and exploration.
Perhaps most importantly, they demonstrate that objects destined for a landfill can become something beautiful.
See the trolls before they arrive.
Before setting out to find the six giant sculptures at The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, take a look at this preview of TROLLS: Save the Humans. The video offers a glimpse of the scale, artistry, and environmental message behind one of the Adirondacks' most anticipated exhibitions of 2026.
A preview of TROLLS: Save the Humans at The Wild Center, featuring Thomas Dambo's towering troll sculptures crafted from reclaimed materials and designed to inspire a deeper connection with nature.
The exhibition will be on display at The Wild Center in Tupper Lake from June 1 through October 31, 2026, giving Adirondack visitors an opportunity to experience Dambo's internationally acclaimed artwork in a uniquely Adirondack setting.
The Adirondacks may be the perfect setting.
There are places where a giant wooden troll might feel gimmicky.
The Adirondacks are not one of them.
This is a region built on stories. Indigenous traditions, logging camps, Great Camp history, wilderness lore, conservation movements, and generations of campfire storytelling have shaped the culture of the Adirondack Park.
Dambo's trolls fit naturally into that tradition.
The sculptures look as though they could have emerged from an Adirondack folk tale passed down for generations.
Placed among wetlands, forests, and winding trails, they feel less like installations and more like discoveries.
That's a rare achievement for any traveling exhibition.
Who should make the trip.
Families will undoubtedly embrace the exhibit, but they aren't the only audience.
Photographers will find endless compositions. Garden enthusiasts will appreciate the environmental themes. Art lovers will recognize Dambo's significance. Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy having an entirely new reason to revisit The Wild Center.
Even locals who have visited the attraction multiple times may discover the campus from a fresh perspective.
The exhibition's five-month run also makes it uniquely seasonal. Visitors can experience the trolls against spring greenery, summer foliage, early autumn color, and the rich textures of October in the Adirondacks.
ADK Taste recommendations.
Visit on a weekday morning if possible. The trails are quieter, photography is easier, and the experience feels more immersive.
Allow at least two hours. While the troll route itself can be completed in about an hour, most visitors will want additional time to explore The Wild Center's elevated Wild Walk, exhibits, and surrounding grounds.
If visiting in July or August, purchase admission tickets in advance. Summer weekends are expected to be particularly busy.
The artist, Thomas Dambo, in his barn studio.
ADK Taste perspective.
The arrival of TROLLS: Save the Humans says something interesting about where Adirondack tourism is heading.
Visitors still come for mountains, lakes, paddling, and hiking. They always will.
Increasingly, however, they're also looking for experiences that connect culture, creativity, and conservation.
That's what makes this exhibition noteworthy. It isn't simply six giant sculptures in the woods. It's a reminder that the Adirondacks remain a place where people can reconnect with nature, imagination, and perhaps a little wonder.
For a region that has spent more than a century balancing recreation and stewardship, that's a message worth hearing.
For more information, visit the Wild Center’s website.
More about The Wild Center.
ADK Taste’s review of The Wild Center
TROLLS: Save the Humans event details
“The Wild Center named one of America's best science museums by USA Today”
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