The Fremont Troll Who Lives Under A Bridge In Seattle

The Fremont Troll is a public sculpture under a bridge in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. It has been featured in several movies – like 10 Things I Hate About You – and is commonly included in tours of the North West region.

Where Is The Troll Under The Bridge In Seattle?

The Fremont Bridge Troll is located at N. 36th Street at Troll Avenue N., under the north end of the George Washington Memorial Bridge. This particular bridge is also commonly known as Aurora Bridge.

The residential neighborhood is flocked with local gyms, restaurants, and town parks – all of which are open to the public. The statue is an out-of-character addition that brings character and conversation for the locals.

Created in 1990, this statue – which is now several decades old – has weathered the sands of time. This Seattle public art installation was the invention of designers Will Martin, Steve Badanes, Ross Whitehead and Donna Walter.

Legend has it that trolls live under bridges to escape traffic and development. This sentiment acted as inspiration for the project because the group felt that Seattle was dealing with too much congestion.

In a way, the troll was “art imitating life” for Seattle residents. It made a very public problem concrete and tangible.

History Of Trolls

The trolls of Scandinavian myths, known as jötnar, are notoriously ugly giants that turn to stone in the sunlight. More times than not, we typically see trolls appear ugly in paintings and sculptures because that is how it is written in folklore.

In the late 80s, dolls were created to try to soften their appearance and appeal to the masses. But in most typical folklore, trolls commonly were described to have tusks or just one cyclops eye.

And if you wondered who they hunted – it was us, humans. Trolls loved to eat human flesh. Since we were always at war with one another, it was uncommon for this species to live out in the open and near human towns. That is why when you read stories, you tend to find trolls residing in isolated rocks, mountains, or caves.

The Troll In Seattle Has No Parking

Should you decide to include this landmark structure on your upcoming visit to Seattle, we have a warning for you – there is no place to park!

It is very hard to find a spot around the troll in Seattle. So, your best bet is to either take a tour that includes the photo opp or order an Uber and ask them to wait a few minutes while you to get your shot. It won’t take you more than a few minutes if you are focused.

While this is a really quick trip, we absolutely still think you should visit because The Fremont Troll is such a sight to see.

Details About The Troll Under The Bridge In Seattle, WA

Here are a few fun facts that you need to know about the troll under the bridge in Seattle, WA:

It is 18 feet tall.
It has a metal eye made from a Volkswagen Beetle hubcap.
In his left hand, you will find a crushed Beetle.
You are allowed to climb the Troll – as long as you respect it and are careful. Interaction is encouraged.
Trolls derive from Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore.
It’s free.

Is The Fremont Troll Haunted?

I know what you are wondering – is the Fremont Troll haunted? The Seattle landmark is many things, but does it have any paranormal links that need to be deciphered?

We did some digging and it seems that some strange things actually have occurred around the location. In 2013, the public found over a dozen bloody sheep skulls in a yard adjacent to the troll. Some were claiming that the “statue had a snack.”

But odds are that it probably was just a couple of prankster kids having some fun. This guy is just hiding under the bridge to get away from all the noise. He much rather steal a car than human bones.

In the end, the Seattle statue is really just a great landmark that is interesting enough for a visit, but not dark enough to link to anything beyond this spiritual plane. While trolls are mythical, this one is purely art.

Have you visited the Freemont Troll Statue? What did you think? Do you have any pictures to share? Would love to hear your thoughts!

If you do happen to get around to making an actual visit, try to go at night and snap some photos. Perhaps you will be able to capture some white orbs or different color orbs!