The Senja Troll () was a tourist attraction in Finnsæter on the island of Senja in northern Norway. The largest troll statue in the world, it was the centerpiece of a family park associated with the Hulderheimen cultural center, together known as the Hulder and Troll Park. Beside the troll was a wife, or crone (kjerring); an adventure park and other attractions were housed inside the figure. The structure was destroyed in a fire on March 28, 2019.
History and facilities The Hulderheimen cultural center in Finnsæter opened in 1989, named for a legend about a local mountain, the Hulderberg.Ronny Trælvik, "Den glade galskapen", opinion, Troms Folkeblad, July 12, 2013 . The Senja Troll attraction opened nearby on June 1, 1993;ANB-NTB, "Senja vant trollkrangelen", February 14, 2007 . it was built by Leif Rubach, who ran the attraction with his wife, Siw, dressed as a troll including fake troll feet, and called himself the "troll father"."Senjatrollet, Hulder-og Trollparken at Finnsæter i Berg", Visit Senja, retrieved July 4, 2017.Geir Svardal, "Den vakre bobiløya", Motor, Klikk.no, March 18, 2017 . He was inspired by a local legend of a troll who appeared both on the island and in the sea nearby. The troll was made of injection-molded concrete, polyester, and plastic, was high, and weighed ; in 1997 Guinness World Records listed it as the world's largest troll. In 2007, after years of rivalry, the Hunderfossen Familiepark in Gudbrandsdalen conceded that their troll was not as tall.
Inside the troll was a two-story adventure park.Linn Hanssen, "Familieparker i Nord-Norge", Foreldre, Klikk.no, July 5, 2010, updated July 3, 2017 . In 2017, Rubach was planning to renovate this to add a section for fall and winter activities.Susanne Noreng, "Her spiller 'trollfar' Leif mens pianoet står i full fyr", Troms Folkeblad, May 16, 2017 . There was also a miniature train, the "Sesam-train".
In 2007 a wife, or crone, was lowered beside the troll by crane;Jan Riise Pedersen, "Senjatrollet har fått seg kjerring", NRK, April 26, 2007 . their union was blessed by a priest with two NRK program hosts serving jointly as best man, and in 2012 they had sextuplets, which were baptized.Tord Olander Pedersen, "Her døpes trollungene", Nordlys, July 1, 2012 .
On March 28, 2019, the Senja Troll caught fire and was destroyed within a few minutes."Turistattraksjonen 'Senjatrollet' er nedbrent: – En tragedie", NRK, March 28, 2019 . The cause of the fire was believed to be an old fan heater that exploded."Leif Rubach så livsverket sitt gå opp i røyk: – Helt forferdelig", ABC Nyheter, June 28, 2019, updated October 26, 2022 .
References
External links
Official website in English