Long Leif — Thomas Dambo, Detroit Lakes
Thomas Dambo · recycled wood, 2024 · Detroit Mountain Recreation Area, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Photo: as published in Street Art Utopia; the photographer is not named in our records.
Long Leif is a giant troll built from recycled wood by Danish artist Thomas Dambo and his team in 2024, at the Detroit Mountain Recreation Area near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. MPR News reported at his debut that, at 36 feet, he was the largest of the nearly 140 trolls Dambo had built around the world. He is one of five trolls in the area commissioned by the local nonprofit Project 412. Source Source Source Source Checked
Seen May 2026: an Associated Press report published by MPR News on 23 May 2026 says Long Leif stands in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Source Reported
💡 4 things to know
- Dambo’s tallest trollMPR News reported at the June 2024 debut that Long Leif, at 36 feet, was the tallest sculpture Dambo had constructed and the largest of his nearly 140 trolls. Source Checked
- A short hike to find himAccording to KAXE, Long Leif stands at the end of an approximately one-third-mile hike at the Detroit Mountain Recreation Area. Source Checked
- Telephone poles and volunteersCBS Minnesota reported that discarded telephone poles help Long Leif stand. MPR News said a crew of 15 and more than 300 volunteers built the sculptures; CBS Minnesota says nearly 300 volunteers. Source Source Conflicting
- Part of a troll treasure huntLong Leif is one of five giant trolls in the area, with a golden rabbit and three magic mirror portals, on a free treasure hunt that starts in Detroit Lakes’ City Park. Source Checked
📍 Where it is
Detroit Mountain Recreation Area, near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, USA, at the end of a hike of about one-third of a mile. Source Source Checked
Opens a map at 46.8163, -95.7834, at the Detroit Mountain Recreation Area (approximate).
🗓️ Sightings
- 20246 Jun
Debuted to a select few · MPR News
- 20242 Jul
Photo dated 2 July 2024 in a KAXE report
- 202428 Nov
Featured in a CBS Minnesota story on the trolls
- 202623 May
AP says Long Leif stands in Detroit Lakes · via MPR News
Green stamps mark dated photographs; amber stamps mark records, events and reports; red stamps mark loss. Publication dates are not camera dates.
🗞️ In the sources
A giant troll installation and treasure hunt opens in northern Minnesota
“At 36 feet tall, Long Leif is the largest of the nearly 140 troll sculptures Thomas Dambo has built around the world.”
Long Leif was Dambo’s biggest troll when he was built.
Dambo’s Detroit Lakes area trolls continue to draw crowds
“Long Leif stands at the end of an approximately one-third-mile hike at the Detroit Mountain Recreation Area”
Where and how to find him.
Mythical troll statues made of recycled materials make Detroit Lakes their home
“Discarded telephone poles help him stand.”
Old telephone poles form part of the structure.
‘Long Leif’ siblings go indoors as Detroit Lakes troll artist stages first museum exhibit
““Long Leif,” the tallest at 13 meters (43 feet) high, stands in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.”
AP still describes the troll as standing in 2026, and gives a greater height.
✅ The facts
- Height
- 36 ft (about 11 m) per MPR News, CBS Minnesota and Visit Detroit Lakes; 13 m (43 ft) in a 2026 AP report Source Source Source Source Conflicting
- Commissioned by
- Project 412, a nonprofit named for the 412 lakes in the Detroit Lakes area Source Source Checked
- Builders
- A work crew of 15 and more than 300 volunteers built the sculptures (MPR News); CBS Minnesota says nearly 300 volunteers Source Source Conflicting
🔗 Related
- Nothing Here Is Life-Size (8 Photos) — Street Art Utopia
- Thomas Dambo — works list
- Visit Detroit Lakes — Discover the trolls
- All Artwork Files
All sources & image credits
- Thomas Dambo — works list (#132 Long Leif)
- MPR News — 6 June 2024
- KAXE — 30 September 2024
- CBS Minnesota — 28 November 2024
- Visit Detroit Lakes — Discover trolls in Detroit Lakes (official)
- The Associated Press via MPR News — 23 May 2026
- Hero image: as published in the Street Art Utopia post (SAU media #68804; WAU media #12739); the photographer is not named in our records. The share image is a 16:9 version with blurred sides (WAU media #12741).
Last checked: 12 November 2026 · How we verify art