Dwarf statue maker Isaac Hartston will build a second dwarf in Colorado

Teller County, Colorado. Breckenridge’s lovable troll Isak Heartstone is about to make a new friend in Teller County.

If you haven’t encountered the Isak Heartstone before, here’s what you need to know: It’s a 15-foot-tall wooden dwarf created using locally sourced wood and materials by Danish recycling artist and activist Thomas Dambo. Isak is one of the many art installations that have made Dambo’s work famous throughout the world.

Now, the Gold Camp District Impact Group (gcDIG), a philanthropic nonprofit organization, is preparing to welcome its troll into the communities of Cripple Creek and Victor in southern Teller County.

In late June, Dambo announced a new project called the “King Bird Trail,” in which he takes overland trips from Vermont across the country to Washington and builds 10 trolls and thousands of birdhouses along the way. Colorado is one of his stops for troll building.

Parts of the dwarf—which has yet to be named—will be made in Dambo’s workshop in Copenhagen and then shipped to Teller County. With the help of five to eight team members, plus a few local carpenters and five to seven volunteers per day, Dambo will finish and install the troll at an undisclosed location in the county. Creation dates run from July 27 through August. 4, 2023.

“This beautiful work of art will remain here for years to come and mark a new era of vitality, stewardship, and hope in our community,” gcDIG wrote on Facebook.

The first dwarf festival is scheduled to be held on August 3rd. 4-5 in Victor.

“As we help build them, we will raise awareness of Teller County and bring people from all over the world to find Trolls, promoting business to Troll Creek and surrounding areas,” gcDIG said.

The nonprofit is trying to raise $50,000. We welcome donations through the nonprofit GoFundMe.

This new midget will be the second Dambo makes in Colorado.

Isak Heartstone was the first, and was installed in 2018 for the Breckenridge International Arts Festival. However, problems quickly arose, as the statue attracted thousands of people each month. Trash was dumped on the grounds, visitors trampled over vegetation to take shortcuts, and nearby residents complained of overcrowding, noise, and parking issues. Breckenridge City Council voted to dismantle the piece in mid-November 2018 and city staff began removing it two days later.

Troll No More: Breckenridge eliminates Isaac Hartston; The future of the giant woody dwarf is uncertain

The city formed a task force to find a new home for the sculpture. A ministry spokesman said some of the pieces had been kept in a storage facility in the meantime.

In February 2019, town officials announced that they had reached an agreement with Dambo to rebuild the troll that spring. Isak Heartstone was reassembled at its new and current location – near the Illinois Gulch Trailhead – in May 2019 with Dambo’s help.

Troll Breckenridge gets a new home

The short path leading to the troll’s new home was officially opened in June 2019.