Big Pete and Little Sally

We left the comforts of the Biltmore Estate and decided to start our quest for the Grandmother Tree. What is the Grandmother Tree you might ask? Well, as you might recall from some of the other blogs, I have begun the Dambo Troll Hunt. In certain regions, Thomas Dambo has not only created permanent troll displays, but he has also taken it up a notch by creating a Scavenger Hunt. Within North Carolina, Thomas Dambo designed and built trolls in Charlotte, High Point, and Raleigh to create his hunt for the Grandmother Tree. She also happens to be very close to Raleigh.

As the story goes, “Between these 20 rhymes you’ll meet some different characters seven trolls, a big old tree, and then you. You’re the narrator. First, the trolls, a mother and a father, and their fivelings they grew up in a forest somewhere under the horizon”

“And then, second is the grandmother, a mighty ancient tree the beacon of the forest. Without her they all grow aimlessly and then the third is you. Your name is written in the caption in the center of the action. You decide what’s next to happen”

The poem has three more stanzas, but suffice it to say Big Pete and Little Sally have left the family group and reside a short distance away in Charlotte and High Point. Each of them has a necklace with a symbol on it. Through using the symbols on their necklaces as well as the five trolls in Raleigh, troll hunters can track down the Grandmother Tree. On the trollmap you’ll find a place to enter the symbols then the names of streets will appear, and you’ll have to search for Grandmother.

Our mission for the day included the first two trolls.

Big Pete

Pete’s story: Big Pete worries about his feet. Every time he walks, he smashes flowers and other foliage. He has laid down and wonders if he should take a nap or continue to collect and spread seeds with his feet.

Those who hunt trolls then post online often leave the address for others to use when finding trolls. We knew Big Pete rests in Charlotte, but we didn’t realize he would be in the midst of a construction site. As we drove to Big Pete’s home, construction workers had to wave us through. I’m sure they enjoyed waving people through their area ALL day. Unless you’ve been to a troll, you don’t understand the steady stream of people that visit daily. I wonder if the construction people knew Big Pete would attract quite the crowd.

To our left was a hill with Pete and his feet. To the right were apartments and townhomes going up. We parked along the street and walked a short distance to see this large troll. The ground was slick from the snow, and the grass had worn away because of the human traffic. I managed to keep myself upright, but several people struggled to get near Pete’s feet because of the incline and slippery conditions.

I know I’ve said it before, but troll hunting brings out such a variety of people. Little kids came with their parents and older folks looking for a fun adventure make their way too. If I compared troll hunting to a sport, I would think it would be pickleball. Pickleball players are old and young, and great skill isn’t requisite for fun. Both activities can be enjoyed for a lifetime.

Once we had our fill of Big Pete pictures, we headed to High Point to see…

Little Sally

If you know me personally, you know I have a brother named Peter, and my mother was nicknamed Sally. Today I had the opportunity to reflect on my family as I met two trolls with names matching my family. I think my mom would have loved the trolls. Oddly enough, my brother’s mother-in-law is named Valle, and we saw Valle in Asheville. Now…they just need a Reba!

As for Sally, she arrived on the scene in 2025. The trollmap has not been updated with her story. Someday soon installation of the QR code sign will occur…not yet though. However, there are a few things I know. Sally’s hair is made of furniture legs. Why? Apparently, High Point is the “Home Furnishings Capital of the World”. Over 100 furniture stores and outlets make their home in High Point. Had I done enough research on the city (sorry I was hyperfocused on trolls), we would have visited the World’s Largest Chest of Drawers. Standing at 36 feet, the dresser lovingly displays colorful socks. Sadly, this amazing visual escaped my inspection.

Sally looks new. Her wood construction provides vivid colors and delighted everyone who visited. A corner lot allows parking, and the short walk to see Sally takes you into an area with some graffiti and abandoned items. With the influx of visitors, though, Tracy and I felt completely safe. Checking her out at sunset might have told a different story though.

Despite the location, I believe Sally has the potential to change the scenery of her home. Reports state the trolls at the North Carolina Arboretum brought 100,000 visitors to their beautiful gardens. I can only imagine how many of those visitors took a trip to High Point to see Sally. Maybe she will make a difference…one that will spruce up her surroundings and help bring more fabulous hunters to her spot.

We decided to eat lunch before heading to Tracy’s sister’s house. Somehow our bread tasted of soap. We could not find the source of this taste (no soap near the food), but I believe the heavily scented trash bags played a part. Instead of enjoying our turkey sandwiches, we decided to snack on the other items we brought. Those snacks provided enough sustenance to help us make our way to Summerfield. Thankful for the loving home and inviting accomodations, we ended our day with tales of days gone by. After all, that’s what sisters do :).