Fremont Troll
Last updated: October 30, 2023
I recently spent the Fourth of July weekend exploring Seattle and did not get through my aggressive agenda, so I decided to finish up this weekend by exploring Discovery Park, the Fremont Troll and Alki Beach.
The Fremont Troll
Since 1859, we’ve been learning of trolls living under bridges thanks to the Norwegian fairytale, Three Billy Goats Gruff. Seattle is no exception as a troll took up residence underneath the Fremont neighborhood bridge in 1990 and been lurking there ever since.
Fremont is a neighborhood in Seattle. In 1990, the Freemont Arts Council launched a campaign to rehabilitate under the Aurora Bridge because it had become a dumping ground and haven for drug dealers. The troll was built later that same year by four artists.
In 2005, the street running downhill from the statute was renamed to Troll Avenue in honor of the sculpture.
The troll is holding a VW Bug that has a California license plate as if he’s just swiped it from the highway above. Interestingly, the Bug used to hold a time capsule, but it was stolen when the sculpture was vandalized. The troll is 18 feet tall and weighs 13,000 pounds and is made of concrete.
For all you pop culture fans, this sculpture was filmed during a scene of the 1999 movie, 10 Things I Hate About You, and also in the 2009 movie Love Happens. Both are good movies that I must now watch again in honor of the troll.
Now that you know more than you ever wanted to know about Seattle’s Troll lurking under a bridge, let’s talk about what’s within walking distance of the troll that I enjoyed.
Grab a Custom Drink from DIY Tea Lab
I was ready for something to drink after walking so much and stumbled upon Fremonts DIY Tea Lab. After looking at the outdoor menu, I was so intrigued that I headed in and got in line to order. I got the Fresh Milk and Brown Sugar and thoroughly enjoyed it.
People Waiting for the Interurban
In 1978, Richard Beyer sculpted six people and a dog waiting for public transportation, specifically, the Seattle-Everett Interurban. The statue was dedicated during the Fremont Fair. I was majorly curious about the “dog” and learned that it’s face was fashioned to resemble Fremont political leader Armen “Napoleon” Stephanian, with whom Beyer had public disagreements in the 1970s. Richard, you’re a bit petty, aren’t you?
Late for the Interurban
A local Seattle TV show, J.P Patches, aired from 1958 – 1981 and had more than 10,000 daily views from the locals.
In 2008, a sculpture of towns beloved J.P Patches and his sidekick Gertrude was dedicated to the city and cheekily titled “Late for the Interurban”. It sits within 250 feet of the “People Waiting for the Interurban”. It and was dedicated to celebrate the 50the anniversary of the J.P Patches show. The Keynote address of the dedication was given by J.P Patches 16 year old granddaughter.
Chris went on for thirty more years after the shows last episode doing live gigs for parties and events and spent an enormous amount of time in the Seattle Children’s Hospital cheering up the patients and never once asked to be paid. He died in 2012 at 84 years old of blood cancer.
I really enjoyed exploring the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, so if you ever go to visit the troll, be sure to check out some more if Fremont while you’re there!
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