Isak Heartstone, the giant wooden troll in Breckenridge, will be given a second chance after being dismantled in November.
The giant 15-foot wooden troll became a tourist attraction in Breckenridge last year when it was created as part of a summer arts festival. Though, Isak Heartstone didn't end up staying very long. In November, Isak was dismantled, with the Breckenridge City Council reporting public safety concerns as the reason behind the removal.
The piece was created by sculpture artist Thomas Dambo, who, in November, shared on his Facebook page images of the troll being taken apart, saying, "It breaks my heart to see ... But hope they will salvage the Heartstone so his soul can live on if we find a new home for him."
And luckily, Dambo's beloved troll has been given a second chance!
The town of Breckenridge formed a committee -- made up of town staff, members of the local community, stakeholders from Breckenridge Creative Arts, and the Breckenridge Tourism Office, according to a news release -- and they've held regular meetings since November to work on "a potential relocation with possible new locations and potential management strategies in mind."
And on January 17, Breckenridge and Dambo came to an agreement regarding the wooden troll. Dambo, in partnership with Breckenridge Creative Arts, will spend roughly a week in mid-May reinstalling Isak, and while the specific dates aren't known just yet, it's been reported that Isak Heartstone 2.0 will be comprised of new materials, along with some that were recycled from the first installation. The new sculpture will be a "reimagined version of Dambo's first Breckenridge sculpture."
Now, the only question remains: Where will he reside? At this point, nobody really knows, though he will officially be returning to Breckenridge. Dambo has stated in the past that he'd like Isak to be installed near Illinois Creek, behind the ice arena, or along the River Trail near the town's rec center.
However, we're likely to get a definite answer to that question on March 4, when the committee is hosting an open house at the Breckenridge Recreation Center. The town of Breckenridge posted the announcement on its Facebook page:
The open house is set for 6-7 p.m. in the rec center's multi-purpose room. Here, the committee will explain all of the details regarding Isak's return, including the process, location, and logistics, as well as answer questions about transit, trail work, public outreach, and more.
"We are extremely excited to have reached an agreement on this process," said Councilwoman Wendy Wolfe. "Our committee has been working very hard, and we are confident in the outcome. We are looking forward to giving Isak a new home in Breckenridge."
So, what do you think? Are you happy to see Isak returning to Breckenridge in May? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
