DETROIT LAKES — Hidden along trails in the Detroit Lakes area are works of art, each with a story of its own.
Long Leif is a 36-foot troll who has learned the secret of growth by hanging out with trees, and he is the largest of Danish recycling artist Thomas Dambo's nearly 140 troll sculptures scattered across the world.
Long Leif stands at the end of an approximately one-third-mile hike at the Detroit Mountain Recreation Area, often prompting startled exclamations from visitors when he comes into view.
Long Leif joins Jacob Everear, Ronny Funny Face, Barefoot Frida and Alexa in a five-troll journey around Detroit Lakes and nearby Frazee, with three "magic mirror" sculptures in Detroit Lakes, Perham and Fargo.
The sculpture adventure opened to the public earlier this summer, with the installations commissioned by Project 412 — so named for the 412 lakes in the Detroit Lakes area.
Project board member Amy Stearns said the group reached out to Dambo, an artist with a worldwide following.
“One of our board members had seen one of his trolls in Breckenridge, Colorado, and it had to be moved because it had drawn so much attention and so much traffic, and he thought, 'What a great problem,'" Stearns said.
Stearns said Dambo visited the area in May 2023, walking all over Becker County for potential troll sites.
"We have five trolls, the golden rabbit and three portals. And they're all part of his art installation called Alexa's Elixir, which is really a kind of a story about making a way to figure out a good life," Stearns said.
Dambo uses recycled materials for his creations — mostly wood pallets for the trolls and yellow plastic for the golden rabbit.
Stearns said the Detroit Lakes area and the trolls will welcome visitors of all ages, throughout the seasons.
"Two of the trolls, you could practically drive up to them," she said. "You could probably snowshoe, maybe cross-country ski. I mean it's not going to be a groomed trail or anything, but I think we Minnesotans, we are used to getting out in all sorts of weather."
Getting outside is just part of the benefit the Detroit Lakes area community is seeing, with Stearns sharing an estimated 500 to 1,000 people visit the trolls each day.
"It is about the economic impact," she said. "It's also about the whimsy and the fun and exploring our beautiful region, getting outside."
While waiting to get the official totals from the state for taxes like food and beverage or lodging, Stearns said, anecdotally, businesses in the area have seen a boost.
"We have lots of stories from hotel owners, restaurant owners, clerks, people who've interacted with some of our troll hunters who have really wonderful stories about what their time in Detroit Lakes was like," Stearns said.
Dambo and his crew — along with over 300 local volunteers with Project 412 — completed the trolls at the end of June. They also made and installed more than 800 colorful birdhouses.
Anyone can see the trolls by accessing the Trollmap on Dambo’s website, downloading the Geocaching app or by visiting Project 412’s website. But finding the golden rabbit involves solving riddles and paying attention to the necklaces worn by the trolls.
To start your “troll journey,” visit Alexa at City Park in Detroit Lakes and read her storybook to help her make an elixir. Alexa’s Elixir will help you find the hidden Golden Rabbit.
Because the trolls are made from recycled materials, they will eventually be reclaimed by the earth, but Project 412 plans to maintain the sculptures for many years to come.
The enchanting sculptures look like they walked straight out of a fairy tale and made themselves comfortable in Northern Minnesota while no one was looking.
Herman Robinson, 8, may have said it best: “This is like, the best. This is the coolest adventure I’ve ever done in my life!”
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