Thomas Dambo Trolls Draw Record Summer Crowds to Tupper Lake, New York
This summer marked the most active season in decades for Tupper Lake, New York, largely due to the installation of troll sculptures by Danish artist Thomas Dambo at the Wild Center. Tina Merrihew, 59, who operates a laundromat and doughnut shop, observed an influx of visitors, crediting the trolls as key drivers of this increase. Crafted from recycled wood, Dambo's impressive troll figures have turned the town into a notable tourist attraction. A travel feature in The New York Times on October 9, 2026, emphasized the ability of art installations to revitalize rural economies. The Wild Center, a museum dedicated to natural history, showcased this transformative effect of engaging public art in less populated regions.
Key facts
- Danish artist Thomas Dambo's troll sculptures were installed at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake, New York.
- Tina Merrihew, 59, owner of a half-laundromat, half-doughnut shop, said she had never had a busier summer in 37 years.
- Merrihew credited the trolls for the increase in visitors, calling them 'instigators.'
- The New York Times published a travel feature about the trolls on October 9, 2026.
- The Wild Center is a nature center and museum in the Adirondack region of New York.
- The installation drew tourists to a rural town that typically sees less foot traffic.
- Dambo is known for building large-scale troll figures from recycled materials.
- The story illustrates the economic impact of public art on small communities.
Entities
Artists
- Thomas Dambo
- Tina Merrihew
Institutions
- The Wild Center
- The New York Times
Locations
- Tupper Lake
- New York
- United States
- Adirondacks
- Denmark