Lake Michigan Circle Tour: Benny the Beard Fisher - Dambo Troll

 The final post of this fabulous Lake Michigan Circle Tour adventure could've been added to the memorable cache post, the Roadside America post, or the Natural Wonders post, but I felt he needed a post of his own. 

Meet Benny the Beard Fisher!

Benny the Beard Fisher is the 2023 Michigan creation of Thomas Dambo, Danish artist and activist. 

Thomas Dambo is a Danish artist known for his incredible sculptures made from recycled materials. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, he has a unique talent for transforming what many consider “trash” into beautiful, large-scale artworks, often featuring whimsical trolls. One of his notable projects is the “Trail of a 1000 Trolls,” a series of troll sculptures hidden in forests and natural settings worldwide. [See Troll Map]

ShelleyJean shared this segment from CBS Sunday morning right before my Maine trip. Maine has several Dambo trolls, but alas! It was a work trip, so I missed them.

This troll, however, is located at Northland Outfitters outside of Germfask, Michigan (basically, smack in the middle of the UP!). Benny is 30 feet long and 14 feet tall, and he is seen reclining on the shores of the Manistique River.

I am simply fascinated on how Thomas was able to create such curves with leftover wood and pallets from a local Amish sawmill. 

Part of the Dambo installation involves birdhouses. 

Thomas Dambo’s birdhouses are more than just charming decorations; they carry a significant message about urban wildlife and recycling. He has created over 3,500 of these birdhouses from recycled scrap wood, often sourced from construction sites.

These birdhouses are displayed at the beginning of a meandering path in a small wooden area and over a pretty little wooden bridge and boardwalk.

I will have to bring TaGeez back to meet Benny. Hopefully, we will cross paths with some of his kin in Dayton and Detroit Lakes. The one I really want to see is Ole Polle in Portland, Oregon.

"Benny’s beard can reach across the pond and through the river

Long and strong the beard will wrap around you like a twister

Trolls can grow a beard both as a baby, miss, and mister

But any troll will envy that on Benny the Beard Fisher"

Benny loves to fish with his long beard in the Manistique River. He patiently waits on the shoreline to catch a fish or if he is lucky a kayaker passing by. [Source]

🌳

Who knows? Maybe one day Thomas Dambo will create a geocaching troll in the woods.  

While we wait, you can visit Benny the Beard Fisher Troll and complete the Multi-Cache GCAEZCE. Be warned that the final is 9 miles south of Benny.