There’s a new troll in Palmer Lake. Trolls have been a thing in Colorado since Danish artist Thomas Dambo brought to life Isak Heartstone in Breckenridge in 2018 and Rita the Rock Planter in Victor in 2023. But this new creature is the first metal troll in Colorado. Created by local artist and blacksmith Jodie Bliss, this new troll was unveiled in an Awake the Troll ceremony on June 28.
The troll resides beneath the Palmer Lake pedestrian bridge that crosses above the railroad tracks to the lake. Made of hand-forged steel and reclaimed materials, it is notable for its intricate detail. Bliss spent two years making it as a collaborative project with Awake Palmer Lake, a nonprofit devoted to restoring, preserving and enhancing Palmer Lake and its parkland.
As a Tri-Lakes native, Bliss especially wanted to capture the local spirit of Palmer Lake.
“I am absolutely honored that Awake the Lake came to me to be able to create this piece,” Bliss told the crowd at the unveiling ceremony. “It’s really special to me because this is my home community. ”
Bliss was born in Monument in 1984 and after living in places including Gunnison and San Francisco she returned to live and work out of a local studio.
“I chose this place as my home 15 years ago because it is one of the most incredible places on earth,” she said.
Hundreds attended the unveiling ceremony, joining Bliss in making “an enormous amount of noise to wake him up.”
“I think he is the best thing that has ever come out of my shop,” the artist told KKTV beforehand.
Find more info about the project at awakepalmerlake.org.
199 County Line Rd., Palmer Lake
