The Fremont Troll in Seattle, Washington

We all know the fairy tale story. Once upon a time three goats try to cross a bridge in search of more food. Each goat encounters a giant bridge troll who refuses to let him pass but is tricked into letting them go as each tells him of his bigger, older brother to come. Most know this as just a story, a fairy tale, a tall tale legend told throughout the years that couldn’t possibly be true. But the residents of Fremont know that such a mythical bridge troll most certainly exists. Meet the Fremont Troll.

In 1989 the Fremont Arts Council in Seattle, Washington, held a contest to select an idea for an art project to occupy the space under the Aurora Bridge. Disillusioned by the idea of the space becoming a waste dump, they wanted to do something different and more imaginative. After five projects were picked, the community voted and the Fremont bridge troll received overwhelming support.

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The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

The Fremont Troll was a collaboration by artists Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter, and Ross Whitehead and is an amazing 2-ton, 18-foot creature made from rebar steel, wire and 2 tons of ferroconcrete.

One shining eye of the Seattle troll watches for visitors and billy goats alike and in one hand he clutches an actual Volkswagen Beetle.

But don’t worry, unlike the troll from the myth this one seems friendlier: visitors are encouraged to climb up him and around him and get your photo taken with him. But, just to be safe, I wouldn’t bring any goats by.

Where is the Fremont troll located? You can find this Seattle roadside attraction in Fremont (the center of the universe) on N 36th St under the Aurora Ave. Bridge. Trust me, he isn’t hard to spot!

I have to admit, the Fremont bridge troll is one of the things I look forward to seeing the most whenever I visit Seattle! It’s one of the best Washington roadside attractions and pretty much stuff a Silly American Adventurer’s dreams are made of…

The Fremont Troll in 2013:

The Fremont Troll, a roadside attraction in Seattle, Washington.
The Fremont Troll, a roadside attraction in Seattle, Washington.
The Fremont Troll, a roadside attraction in Seattle, Washington.
The Fremont Troll, a roadside attraction in Seattle, Washington.
The Fremont Troll, a roadside attraction in Seattle, Washington.
The Fremont Troll, a roadside attraction in Seattle, Washington.

The Fremont Troll in 2009:

Date: June 29, 2009

The Fremont Troll, a roadside attraction in Seattle, Washington.
The Fremont Troll, a roadside attraction in Seattle, Washington.
The Fremont Troll, a roadside attraction in Seattle, Washington.
The Fremont Troll, a roadside attraction in Seattle, Washington.
The Fremont Troll, a roadside attraction in Seattle, Washington.
The Fremont Troll, a roadside attraction in Seattle, Washington.
The Fremont Troll, a roadside attraction in Seattle, Washington.
Val and the Fremont Troll, a roadside attraction in Seattle, Washington.
Val and the Fremont Troll, a roadside attraction in Seattle, Washington.

While you’re in the Fremont neighborhood in Seattle be sure to also check out the Space SculptureThe Fremont Rocket, and the Statue of Lenin.


The Fremont Troll Seattle

Location: N 36th St, Fremont, Seattle, Washington (Under the Aurora Ave. Bridge)
Cost: Free to see.
Hours: Always visible.


Pin this Seattle roadside attraction:

Don't bring your goats to The Fremont Troll - a giant weird roadside attraction under the Aurora Ave. Bridge in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. This is a fun thing to do in Washington on a Seattle vacation or Washington road trip. Add it to your travel itinerary and bucket list as a place to see in Seattle. 
#SeattleRoadsideAttractions  #RoadsideAttractions #RoadTrip #WashingtonRoadTrip #WashingtonBucketList #SeattleBucketList #SeattleRoadTrip #WeirdRoadsideAttractions
Don’t bring your goats to The Fremont Troll – a giant weird roadside attraction under the Aurora Ave. Bridge in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. This is a fun thing to do in Washington on a Seattle vacation or Washington road trip. Add it to your travel itinerary and bucket list as a place to see in Seattle.

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Valerie Bromann

Founder & ROad Trip Expert

Valerie Bromann is a a website manager, content creator, and writer from Chicago, Illinois (currently living in Dallas, Texas). As an avid road tripper who has visited hundreds of roadside attractions, Val always pull over for a world’s largest thing. Founder of Silly America and author of The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book, she visits, photographs, and writes about all the weird tourist destinations she visits and offers road trip planning advice and inspiration based on her own travels so you can hit the road for yourself.

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Last modified: July 4, 2020
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The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

BY Valerie Bromann

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.