Ole Bolle Troll – Portland

📍 Location: 8800 SW Oleson Rd, Portland, OR
📂 Type: Activity / Attraction

Why we went:
A quick stop to see the Ole Bolle troll installation at Nordic Northwest—part of the Pacific Northwest “Way of the Bird King” troll series.

👥 Who This Is For

• Quick stops / short outings
• Families or casual visitors
• People already in the area or just passing thru

What it is:
A 19-foot wooden troll sculpture created by artist Thomas Dambo, built from reclaimed materials. Ole Bolle is positioned kneeling and peeking into a small house in the woods, creating a fun interactive photo spot.

Experience:

• Short walk from the parking area
• Easy, casual stop (not a full-day activity)
• Fun to explore the house + surrounding Nordic campus
• Great photo opportunity

👍 What We Liked

• Unique and whimsical art installation
• Quick and easy visit
• Interesting Nordic cultural campus around it
• Of all the PNW trolls we have visited we enjoyed this one the most. It sparks the imagination.
• Nordic food themed cafe on site.
• Nordic cultural center.

👎 What We Didn’t

• Not a long activity (more of a 20–40 min stop)
• Can be a little hidden if you don’t know where to go
• Parking can be limited
• Depending on when you go, there can be a long wait for the cafe

💡 Tips:

• Look for signs at Nordic Northwest entrance
• Go during daylight hours
• Combine with nearby stops if making a day trip

🏁 Verdict: WORTH-IT 🔵

“A fun, quirky stop if you’re already in the area—worth seeing once.”

🏁 Verdict: (Must-Do / Worth-It / Skip)

One-line summary: Must-Do, a great stop on a road trip thru Oregon with a nordic themed cafe and place to picinc