Hunt for Giants: Thomas Dambo’s Trolls Take Over the NC Arboretum This Winter

There’s something magical happening just six miles from Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast, and it involves towering creatures made entirely from recycled materials hidden throughout the forest. From November 15, 2025, through February 17, 2026, the North Carolina Arboretum will host Thomas Dambo Trolls: A Field Study, an enchanting outdoor exhibition featuring twelve enormous wooden trolls scattered across the 434-acre grounds.

If you’ve been following Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s work around the world, you know his troll installations have developed a cult following. Now it’s Asheville’s turn to experience the wonder, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome fellow troll hunters to our B&B for this limited-time adventure.

Who is Thomas Dambo and Why Are His Trolls So Popular?

Thomas Dambo is a Danish recycling artist who has built over 150 giant wooden trolls in forests, parks, and nature reserves across six continents. But these aren’t just sculptures—they’re interactive art installations that encourage exploration, environmental awareness, and a sense of childlike wonder. Each troll is constructed entirely from reclaimed wood and discarded materials, often sourced locally, embodying Dambo’s mission to highlight sustainability and the beauty of giving “trash” new life.

What makes his work particularly beloved is the treasure hunt aspect. Dambo creates poems and riddles that guide visitors from troll to troll, turning each exhibition into an immersive adventure rather than a passive viewing experience. The trolls have names, personalities, and backstories that connect them to their surroundings, making each discovery feel like meeting a gentle giant who’s been waiting in the woods just for you.

 

What to Expect at the NC Arboretum Exhibition

The NC Arboretum’s Trolls: A Field Study features twelve of Dambo’s signature creatures positioned throughout the gardens and trails. This isn’t a quick gallery stroll—it’s a proper adventure that can take several hours to complete, depending on how much you want to linger with each troll and explore the beautiful winter landscape.

You have two distinct ways to experience the trolls, and choosing between them depends on what kind of adventure appeals to you:

Daytime Troll Hunt (November 15 – February 17, 2026)
During daylight hours, you can explore the exhibition at your own pace without advance reservations. Simply arrive at the Arboretum and pay the $20 parking fee per vehicle. This gives you complete flexibility—sleep in, enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Pinecrest, and head over whenever you’re ready. You can take all the time you need to find each troll, follow the riddles at your own rhythm, and perhaps even return for a second visit if you’d like to see them in different weather or lighting conditions.

Winter Lights Evening Experience (November 15 – January 4, 2026)
For something truly magical, the evening Winter Lights display features six of the trolls illuminated after dark. This is a ticketed, timed-entry event that requires advance booking through the NC Arboretum’s website, and these tickets are expected to sell out quickly. Imagine encountering these gentle giants glowing in the twilight, surrounded by thousands of twinkling lights throughout the gardens. It’s an entirely different experience from the daytime hunt—more intimate, more theatrical, absolutely unforgettable.

Our recommendation? If you’re planning to visit during the Winter Lights period and want that evening experience, book those tickets first and plan your Pinecrest stay around your timed entry. If you prefer a more flexible, exploratory adventure where you can truly take your time (and perhaps enjoy our Troll Hunter’s Picnic), the daytime exhibition is perfect for that unhurried discovery.

Why Pinecrest is Your Perfect Troll-Hunting Base Camp

Here’s the thing about a troll hunt: it requires a bit of planning. You’ll be walking several miles through gardens and natural areas, potentially in winter weather. You’ll want to take your time, snap plenty of photos, maybe sit quietly with a troll for a moment before moving on to find the next one. This isn’t a rushed experience—it’s an adventure best savored.

That’s where our location becomes your secret advantage. Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast is just six miles from the NC Arboretum, which means you can sleep in a bit, enjoy a leisurely gourmet breakfast to fuel your expedition, and still arrive at the Arboretum refreshed and ready for your quest. No need to drive for hours and rush through the experience because you have a long trip home.

Our location in the quiet Montford Historic District also means you’re only one mile from downtown Asheville, where you can celebrate your successful troll hunt with dinner at one of Asheville’s incredible restaurants, browse local galleries, or simply enjoy the vibrant evening atmosphere before returning to your cozy room.

 

Introducing the Troll Hunter’s Picnic

When we learned about the Thomas Dambo exhibition coming to the Arboretum, we immediately thought about what would make the experience even better. Troll hunting is hungry work, and while you could grab something on your way, we wanted to offer something more thoughtful—something that aligned with Dambo’s sustainability message rather than contradicting it.

Enter the Troll Hunter’s Picnic, an upgrade available when you book your stay at Pinecrest. Here’s what’s included:

• Freshly baked focaccia (we make it in-house)
• Cheese from South Slope Cheese Company
• Crisp apples from Creasman Farms
• Seasonal jams
• Roasted nuts
• Hot spiced cider in a vintage thermos
• Everything packed in a sturdy backpack you’ll carry for the day
• A cozy blanket for your picnic spot

The beauty of this package is its simplicity and reusability. No disposable containers, no waste—just real food in real containers, the way a proper adventure picnic should be. Find a favorite spot along the trail, spread out your blanket, pour some hot cider, and take a moment to appreciate your surroundings before continuing your hunt.

When you return to Pinecrest at day’s end, simply leave the backpack and thermos with us. We’ll clean everything, and you can head off to enjoy your evening in Asheville without dragging gear around.

Tips for Your Troll Hunt

Having explored the Arboretum in every season, we have a few insider suggestions:

Dress in Layers – Winter weather in the mountains can be unpredictable. You might start your morning chilly and end up shedding layers by afternoon. The Arboretum’s elevation and open areas can also mean windier conditions than you’d expect.

Wear Comfortable Shoes – You’ll be covering several miles on paved paths, natural trails, and possibly some uneven terrain. Save the cute boots for dinner downtown and opt for your most comfortable walking shoes.

Arrive Early or Go Late – For daytime visits, midday crowds can be significant during popular exhibitions. If you prefer a more contemplative experience, consider arriving right when the Arboretum opens or later in the afternoon. For the Winter Lights display, your timed-entry ticket determines your arrival, but the evening atmosphere offers its own magical, intimate quality.

Bring a Camera – These trolls are incredibly photogenic, and you’ll want to capture each unique personality. The afternoon light filtering through the trees can be particularly stunning for photos.

Take Your Time – This isn’t a race to check all the trolls off a list. Dambo’s installations are designed to encourage people to slow down, observe nature, and rediscover a sense of play and wonder. Let yourself linger.

 

Beyond the Trolls: Why Visit Asheville This Winter

While the Thomas Dambo exhibition is certainly worth the trip on its own, winter in Asheville offers its own quiet magic. The fall leaf-peeping crowds have dispersed, many restaurants and attractions are easier to access without long waits, and there’s something peaceful about the Blue Ridge Mountains in their winter rest.

Downtown Asheville still buzzes with energy—the Grove Arcade’s holiday decorations are charming, local shops offer unique gifts you won’t find anywhere else, and our restaurant scene remains as vibrant as ever. Biltmore Estate’s Christmas decorations are legendary and worth a visit if you’re extending your stay.  We have a promo code to save $8/ticket!

Back at Pinecrest, our 1905 English Tudor home takes on a particularly cozy atmosphere in winter. There’s something wonderful about returning from a day of adventure to a warm room, perhaps settling into one of our common areas with a book or glass of wine, knowing tomorrow holds another day of exploration.

The Complete Troll-Hunting Experience: Our Winter Lights Troll Package

If you’re planning to experience both the daytime and evening troll adventures, we’ve created a “Winter Weekend with the Trolls” package that takes all the planning off your plate. Available Nov 4 to Jan 4, 2026, your package includes a flexible Winter Lights voucher that works any night during the season with no specific date or time required, plus a daytime exhibition vehicle pass so you can see all twelve trolls. Plus NC Arboretum swag including two branded cups, a wooden troll sticker, and 3D glasses for Winter Lights viewing.

The beauty of this package is its flexibility—especially that Winter Lights voucher, which works any night during the season rather than locking you into a specific date and time. Learn more about our Winter Lights package here.

Of course, you can also book any stay at Pinecrest and add just the Troll Hunter’s Picnic ($29) if you prefer to craft your own adventure.

Planning Your Troll-Hunting Getaway

Thomas Dambo Trolls: A Field Study runs from November 15, 2025, through February 17, 2026, giving you over three months to plan your visit. However, if you’re interested in the Winter Lights evening experience, those tickets (available November 15 – January 4) may sell out.

Here’s how we recommend planning:

For Winter Lights Evening Visits:

1. Book your Winter Lights tickets first through the NC Arboretum website to secure your preferred date and timed entry
2. Reserve your room at Pinecrest around your ticket time
3. Make dinner reservations either before or after your Winter Lights experience (we’re happy to help with timing recommendations)

For Daytime Troll Hunts:

1. Reserve your room at Pinecrest for your preferred dates
2. Add the Troll Hunter’s Picnic upgrade in your booking notes if you’d like the full adventure package
3. Plan to arrive at the Arboretum whenever suits your morning (just remember the $20 parking fee per vehicle)
4. Make dinner reservations for any restaurants on your Asheville must-try list, especially for weekend visits

From Pinecrest, you’re six miles to the Arboretum, one mile to downtown Asheville, and perfectly positioned to explore everything else western North Carolina has to offer. Multiple highways are just one mile away, making it easy to visit other attractions in the area if you’re extending your stay.

A Final Thought on Magic and Sustainability

What we love most about Thomas Dambo’s work is how it makes people look at both art and nature differently. His trolls are built from materials that would have ended up in landfills—old pallets, discarded fence posts, scrap lumber. Yet in his hands, this “trash” becomes something that draws people from around the world into nature, encouraging them to explore, wonder, and perhaps reconsider their own relationship with the environment.

That philosophy resonates deeply with us. At Pinecrest, we’ve always believed in celebrating what already exists—restoring our 1905 home rather than replacing it, supporting local farms and artisans, creating experiences that feel authentic rather than manufactured. The Troll Hunter’s Picnic is just another expression of that value: real food, reusable containers, genuine experiences.

So come hunt for giants in our mountain forests this winter. Let yourself feel small beside these towering recycled creatures. Pack a picnic, take your time, and rediscover that sense of adventure and wonder that sometimes gets lost in our busy lives.

The trolls are waiting. And so are we.

Book Your Troll-Hunting Getaway | View All Packages | Learn More About the Exhibition