The troll that once resided on the south side of Pease Park has burned to the ground.
The cause of the fire, which likely started between 1:30 and 5:30 a.m. Thursday, is not yet known, the Pease Park Conservancy said.
“We received a call just before 5:30 a.m. reporting flames at Pease Park,” the Austin Fire Department wrote in an email to KUT News.
AFD said its crews responded at 5:35 a.m. to combat the flames, and the investigation is ongoing. Arson dogs were on the scene Thursday morning.
Michael Minasi
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KUT News
A dog wearing a vest that reads “arson” walks through the ashes of the Pease Park troll.
“ It was such a community-wide effort to gather the reused wood that helped to build her. So many volunteers involved. It was such a community effort with lots of love, so we’re very sad,” said Allison Johnson, the director of community engagement for Pease Park Conservancy.
The troll, Malin, was installed in 2024 by Danish artist Thomas Dambo with the help of 150 Austin-based volunteers. The installation, which cost around $300,000, used almost entirely recycled materials.
Johnson said Dambo’s team was “devastated” when they heard the news.
“ They’re just sad and they said to send their love to Austin and the community and to our team that worked so hard on it,” Johnson said.
Mourners gathered at the fence surrounding the burn, leaving flowers and tokens to Malin on Thursday afternoon.
“ The world’s a dark place right now, and now the troll’s gone. Life is precious. Don’t take any moment for granted,” said Mac Thompson, who watched the long process of Malin getting built.
Kenya Rodriguez said she loved visiting the troll — and that Malin made Pease Park special.
“ I’m so sad, and I’m honestly also shocked that it would have even happened here,” Rodriguez said. “I just don’t know why they would pick the troll to burn because it’s such a significant thing in the neighborhood.”
The Pease Park troll, Malin, was primarily made from local, recycled and repurposed wood.
Malin was a female troll holding a bowl. The 18-foot-tall structure was built to remind community members “that we should share water and resources with the animals that live here with us,” according to the Pease Park Conservancy.
Bret Kiester is the director of operations for the Pease Park Conservancy and contributed to the construction of Malin.
“ She was a resource that reminded us how important it is to share,” Kiester said. “She’s gone, but that legacy still continues. So we’re just very thankful of the impact that she has had.”
Lynne Dobson and her husband, Greg Wooldridge, helped fund the art. Dobson and Wooldridge contribute to a lot of philanthropic projects in Austin, but Malin was special to them.
“ It’s been a death in the community,” Dobson said. “She was done with a lot of love. We do all of our projects with love, and that’s what’s gonna save us, I guess.”
This isn’t the first time one of Dambo’s trolls has burned down. A troll installed at The Giants of Mandurah exhibit in Australia was lit on fire by vandals in 2022. In 2023, Dambo replaced the statue with a new troll.
Johnson said Malin was insured, but there’s no information yet about whether the park conservancy will seek out a new troll.
Some people, including Rodriguez, say there’s room in their hearts for a new troll.
“ It needs to be here. It’s weird and funky. I think it was really fitting with the city,” Rodriguez said. “I say rebuild it, maybe out of different material.”
Correction: This story has been updated to say that artist Thomas Dambo is Danish, not Finnish, and to correct size of the troll. It was 18 feet tall.