Unearth The Voyage
Some places tap you on the shoulder, and others wave you over with a giant wooden hand. Tucked in the Upper Peninsula’s quiet pines is a larger than life character who looks like he rolled out of a storybook and decided to take a nap by the river.
I went to see him and ended up staying longer than planned, partly for the peaceful setting and partly because his grin works like a friendly dare. Keep reading, because I’m about to show you how to find this whimsical wonder, what it actually feels like to stand beside him, and the little details that make the visit feel personal and memorable.
How to Find the Troll
First things first, the exact spot matters, and this one is easy to pin. Benny the Beard Fisher waits at 8222 M-77, Germfask, MI 49836, inside Northland Outfitters Campground, along the Manistique River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
I parked by the office, paid the posted fee, and picked up a small map that made the route crystal clear. The walk begins as a gentle path through pines and open sky, a few minutes of level ground that builds the suspense step by step.
Signs keep the guesswork low while still letting the woods feel wild enough to spark curiosity. Then the trees open, and there he is, stretched out like a character on lunch break, beard spilling toward the river’s edge.
The address gets you to the right driveway, but the experience belongs to the footpath. It is a short stroll, but the setting turns it into a small ritual that makes the first glimpse land in your memory.
I suggest arriving early when the light slides through branches and the campground is quiet. The calm makes his wooden eyes look almost thoughtful, as if he predicted you would show up.
First Look by the Manistique
The reveal happens fast, and it still feels like a surprise. Benny reclines on the bank of the Manistique River, 14 feet of recycled wood posed with a relaxed, slightly mischievous expression.
Water moves past him in an easy rhythm, catching sky and needles in a shifting mirror. I stood near the phone stand they provide and took in the scale, from fingernails to beard strands, each slat of wood catching light differently.
There is no fence at your back, only trees and quiet that make the sculpture feel like a neighbor who belongs here. The river adds a hush that works better than any soundtrack.
Photos are fun, but lingering is better. I watched paddlers drift by, slow enough to wave as they lined up a perfect water-level angle of Benny’s face.
Up close, the personality hits before the stats. He is friendly without being cute, curious without looking staged, and the woods complete the expression with patient calm.
Who Built Benny and Why
There is a real artist behind the whimsy, and the details sharpen the visit. Danish artist Thomas Dambo created Benny as part of his worldwide series of giant trolls made from reclaimed materials.
Benny’s head, hands, and feet were crafted in Denmark, then shipped to Michigan where the rest took shape on site. The design encourages reuse and play, pairing environmental storytelling with big friendly forms.
Knowing the intention changed how I looked at every plank. The pieces are not random scraps but selected voices in a wooden chorus that says resources can have a second act.
This installation counts among Dambo’s many works across countries, which explains why Benny feels both local and part of a larger story. The series celebrates curiosity, invites communities to explore, and nudges visitors to consider material footprints.
Standing there, I appreciated the care in every joint and screw, practical craftsmanship meeting a public artwork that asks for foot traffic and weather. It is art built to be met outdoors, which is exactly how it should be met here.
The Craft in the Details
Attention flows to the face first, then the details keep you there. The fingers curve with lifelike nails, the beard stacks in layered slats, and the feet press into the ground with grounded weight.
I circled slowly and noticed how the grain lines guide the eye. Some boards read like rings of a story, others show scars that add to the character.
The joints are solid and visible, a practical honesty that fits the outdoors. This is not hiding the build, it is celebrating it, which makes the whole figure feel approachable.
Weather already starts whispering across surfaces, softening edges without stealing definition. Sun and shade trade places on the beard all day, so the sculpture changes expression as clouds pass.
Take a few minutes to crouch, look up, then step back wide. Each angle reveals a new emphasis, and the craftsmanship rewards your patience with quiet discoveries.
Campground Vibes and Hospitality
The setting would not shine without the people who keep it humming. Northland Outfitters runs a tidy, friendly campground with staff who genuinely seem excited to point you toward Benny.
I paid the posted fee at the office, asked a couple of questions, and left with a smile and a simple map. The shop stocks souvenirs and practical bits, and the grounds feel cared for without feeling fussy.
Parking was easy on my visit, and the restrooms nearby were clean. The path to the sculpture begins practically at the doorstep, which lowers stress and raises anticipation.
Visitors were a mix of campers and quick-stoppers, all moving at an unhurried pace that matched the river. I appreciated the sense that this place values curiosity and courtesy equally.
Hospitality frames the artwork like a good mat around a favorite print. It lets you focus on the experience while everything else quietly works in the background.
Practical Tips for Visiting
A smooth visit comes down to a few simple moves. Arrive during open hours, stop at the office to pay the fee, and grab the map that shows the short route to the river.
The walk is easy and flat, good for quick stops and family strolls. Bring comfy shoes, bug spray in warm months, and patience for photo angles if a few groups arrive at once.
There are tripod stands set near the viewing area that help frame full height shots. I used one, stepped back, and finally fit both my grin and Benny’s into the same frame.
Respect the campground, keep voices low near campsites, and stay on the marked path. The rules are simple and keep the experience relaxed for everyone.
If you have time, pair the visit with a river paddle from the same property. Water-level views change the sculpture’s posture into something surprisingly cinematic.
Best Times and Seasons
Timing tweaks the mood more than you might expect. Morning gives gentle light and quieter paths, while late afternoon warms the wood and deepens shadows in the beard.
Spring greens freshen the backdrop and bring bird chatter. Summer adds bright water and longer loiter time, though insect spray helps keep focus on the art.
Autumn might be the showstopper, with orange and gold crowding the frame like confetti without noise. The beard seems richer against those colors, and the river reflects the palette like a calm painter.
Winter visits can land if conditions allow travel and access, turning Benny into a quiet sentinel with a soft snow collar. Cold air sharpens the lines and clears the path of crowds.
Whenever you go, give yourself a few still minutes. The sculpture rewards lingering, and the river keeps time in a patient rhythm that does not rush your visit.
Stories in the Wood
The material tells its own story before the sculpture tells his. Reclaimed wood carries old duties into new shapes, which gives Benny a memory you can almost read with your hands.
Look closely and you might catch tooling marks, fastener holes, or color shifts that hint at a previous life. Those clues make the piece feel personal without needing a plaque to explain it.
The artist’s global project leans on this language of reuse, asking us to notice value in what gets discarded. Standing by the river, that message lands with quiet clarity.
It feels good to meet big art that does not demand polish. The rough edges, the practical bolts, and the visible grain feel honest and grounded.
Leave with a mental note to spot possibilities in the next stack of scrap you see. Benny makes that invitation with a grin that lingers longer than the walk back.
Photography Without the Fuss
Good photos here come down to light and angle, not gear. Overcast days flatten glare and let the wood’s texture pop, while golden hour wraps the beard in warm edges.
I tried low angles for heroic scale and side angles to catch the river behind the profile. The provided phone stands make solo shots easy, and they help keep the path uncluttered.
Step wide to include the water, then move in close on the hands or face for texture. Two or three viewpoints tell a better story than one centered snapshot.
Be mindful of other visitors and share time at the prime spots. A quick wave and a swap of places keeps the mood friendly and the images fresh.
Before leaving, take one last wide frame with the trail leading in. That path shot brings the memory back every time you scroll your camera roll.
River Life Next Door
The river is not just background, it is part of the visit. Kayaks and canoes slip by like punctuation marks, each one changing the paragraph of the scene.
Rentals are available through the campground, which turns a quick stop into a satisfying half day. From the water, Benny’s profile reads differently, more at ease and slightly grander.
I liked floating near the bend and looking back for a wide frame. The current is calm, and the shoreline vegetation frames the sculpture without blocking it.
Back on land, that same water soundtrack softens footsteps and voices. It makes the viewing area feel unhurried, even when a couple of groups arrive at once.
Consider a paddle first, then a stroll. The shift in perspective makes the second look feel new, like meeting the same friend on a different street.
Respecting the Space
Shared spaces work when everyone treats them like borrowed favorites. This is a private campground welcoming public visitors, so small courtesies carry big weight.
Pay the posted fee at the office, follow the map, and keep to the path that guides you past campsites. The rules do not feel strict, they feel considerate.
Trash goes with you or into proper bins, and pets stay leashed. The riverbank needs light feet, especially after rain when the ground softens.
I watched the rhythm of polite pass-throughs and quick photo trades. That easy cooperation turned a busy hour into a peaceful one.
Leave it cleaner than you found it and thank the staff on your way out. Good manners keep the door open for the next curious traveler.
A Short History in Motion
Not all sculptures arrive in one piece, and that is part of the charm here. Benny’s head, hands, and feet traveled from Denmark, then the body took shape on Michigan soil with careful assembly.
The unveiling in 2023 added a fresh chapter to the Upper Peninsula’s road trip lore. Travel routes now include a pause in Germfask for a grin and a photo.
Conversations I overheard covered first trolls, favorite trolls, and dreams of finding more. The project’s global arc meets local pride, and the river folds it all together.
What sticks is the proof that big ideas can travel and still feel rooted. Benny looks entirely at home, as if he picked the spot personally.
I left with a sense that this story is still growing. Weather, footsteps, and returning visitors will write the next lines in wood and river light.
