65-Foot Wooden Troll Made From Recycled Materials Now Open in West Charlotte

A 65-foot troll stands in West Charlotte's River District. The piece, called "Big Pete with the Big Feet," is one of seven troll creations across North Carolina created by Danish recycling artist Thomas Dambo.

Dambo constructed the figure from reclaimed wood collected around the Catawba River and nearby areas. He's erected more than 150 recycled creations worldwide. His work aims to spotlight waste problems and environmental concerns.

"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," Thomas Dambo said, according to WCNC. "Big Pete is a gentle reminder that every step we take leaves a mark."

The mixed-use development hosting Big Pete was designed with green principles at its core. Senior Managing Director Rainer Ficken said the troll fits what they envisioned.

"Hosting a Thomas Dambo troll here is a natural extension of our vision for The River District," Ficken said. "Big Pete is more than just a striking public art piece. He's an invitation for Charlotte and its visitors to engage with the land in a new way, to explore our public trails, and to reflect on the impact each of us has on the environment."

Big Pete ranks as the largest and shyest member of the seven-member "Troll Family." He loves wildflowers. Rustling leaves fascinate him. He sits tucked away in the woods, surrounded by trees and plants. All seven installations connect through a story about the Grandmother Tree.

Five trolls are on display in Raleigh's Dorothea Dix Park. High Point's "Little Sally" troll hides in a secret spot near an old factory. These locations invite visitors to interact and play.

"[Big Pete] invites everyone to slow down, explore and rediscover the beauty that's already around them," Thomas Dambo said. "My hope is that people who meet him feel inspired to care for the planet, for each other, and for nature we often overlook."

Big Pete is free to visit, though the trails remain under construction. Visitors can follow the international troll story via the Trollmap. A temporary exhibition of 12 interactive trolls called "Trolls: A Field Study" will open Saturday at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville.