Trolls in DL
International recycle artist Thomas Dambo and his trash-to-treasure crew left Detroit Lakes on June 10. Since then, the locations of our five charming trolls, one rabbit, and three mysterious portals placed in and between Fargo, ND and Perham, MN have been wildly popular!
About 20% of our Troll hunters live in and around Detroit Lakes while the remaining 80% have traveled from all over the world to see them!
Here are the number of visits to each sculpture as of October 31, 2024.
Many thanks to our generous Troll sponsors for helping to make this GIANT project possible: Arvig, BTD Manufacturing, Frank & Barb Foltz, Fritz/Lundmark Family, Herzog Roofing, Herzog/Hvidston Families, Ken & Helen Foltz, Midwest Bank, Otter Tail Corporation Foundation, Scott & Susan Busker Family, and SJE Foundation.
If you haven’t already, we invite you to experience the magic of this adventure starting in Detroit Lakes City Park or online at TrollsDL.com
Monthly Spring 2025
Monday, February 24
“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”
– Steve Jobs
Entrepreneurial Support
We encourage entrepreneurs to create experiences that make Detroit Lakes an even more unique and memorable destination. Our monthly Deep Dive DL sessions provide the opportunity to connect with local entrepreneurs, creatives, and community members. And our first-ever Hot Dish microgranting dinner is yet another way we are supporting creative projects that build a stronger community.
In August we hosted Pitch 412, a new Shark Tank-inspired event providing entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch and showcase their business ideas. Winners included Lillie’s Lollipops (First Place), Getaway Kimonos (Second Place), and Event Conex (Audience Choice Award).
Since the event, Lillie’s Lollipops has launched a food truck and retail location. Getaway Kimonos has ordered their first production run, launched a website, and is preparing for their first wholesale market. Many thanks to all the applicants and to those who came out to support our finalists. We look forward to doing it again in Spring 2025!
Saturday, September 6
Saturday, July 12
More Cool Stuff
In addition to welcoming our Trolls to DL this past summer, we took on two new race events. The Tour Da Lakes bike races were held in July in memory of Mark Knutson. The Dick Beardsley Races were held in September bringing over 1000 runners to Detroit Lakes. It was an incredible day of energy and excitement in beautiful Detroit Lakes, Minnesota! Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 6, 2025 for our 30th Anniversary Event!
We brought Climbing Boulders to Detroit Lakes’ rec center just north of City Park and collaborated with Broken String Guitar Club, Detroit Lakes Poetry Walk, Stumble Upon Art Youth Program, and many more. Detroit Lakes Tribune’s readers also voted Project 412 as #1 Non-Profit in the Lakes Area!
Thanks to the enthusiastic involvement of all our participants, volunteers, and sponsors, we continue to raise awareness and support of our mission to Do Cool Stuff #DCS!
Year in Review
As we attempt to quantify the creation of places and events that inspire, let’s take a look at 2024 by the numbers as of November 1:
• Way North of Nashville 3.0: 4 singer-songwriters, 13 types of bourbon, 299 attendees
• Kite Festival: 2 days, 40 kites, 9 kiters
• Trucks & Tunes Free Concerts in the Park: 9 vendors, 9 concerts, 56 musicians, 4775 attendees
• Salsa Contest: 2 categories, 14 salsas, 6 judges, 6 winners
• Sculptures: 10 bollard lights, 2 sculptures, 2 artists
• Tour Da Lakes Mark Knutson Memorial: 3 races, 200 racers, 4,395.5 miles biked
• Dick Beardsley Races: 4 races, 1212 racers, 10,101.3 miles ran
• Murals: 3 murals, 2 complete, 1 in progress, 2 artists
• Art Surprises: 11 around town
• Utility Boxes (in collaboration with the Public Utilities Department and Arts & Culture Commission): 79 submissions, 5 new wrapped boxes
• Art on a Stick (in collaboration with the Arts & Culture Commission): 31 submissions, 16 coming soon to a park near you
• Deep Dive DL: 8 events, 12 entrepreneurs, 122 attendees, 381 YouTube views
• Pop-Up Coworking: 137 attendees, 248.5 hours
• Business Support & Connections: 77 businesses, 160+ hours
• Celebrating Local Businesses: 16 new businesses and related milestones
• Pitch 412: 16 applicants, 4 finalists, 100 attendees
• Troll Project Preparation: 10 generous sponsors (see page 11), countless planning sessions
• Troll Project Build: 5 weeks, 30,000 screws, 2 telehandlers, 1 missing troll head (we found it!), 300 volunteers, 1 big party, 1 artist talk with 600 attendees, 25 meals + so many Troll Treats!
• Troll Project Reveal: 800 birdhouses, 3 portals, 5 trolls, 1 rabbit, 6 pupil parties
• Troll Project Results: 3 website crashes due to traffic, 103,285 website visits, 222,714 page views, 1 TEDX Talk in Fargo, 30+ media interviews and articles including the front page of USA Today – Above the Fold! (Also see the number of visits per Troll on page 11.)
find
Follow along Larry’s Way in Detroit Lakes City Park to
this series of motivational art surprises that can only be seen when rain falls! Created by Hannah Irene Marie.
Let’s Imagine
Imagine retreating from the “real” world to experience a quiet oasis of beauty in nature, with flowers and greenery providing a year-round sanctuary for residents and visitors to the Detroit Lakes, Minnesota area. Imagine more larger-than-life sculptures and a meandering trail system for walking, hiking, biking, and other recreational activities.
Ortenstone Gardens & Sculpture Park is currently in development in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Contact Amy at Amy@Project412MN.org to learn more about this exciting new project!
“Look
for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
– Fred Rogers
Are You One of Our 412?
Project 412 was founded on the belief that if we all come together we can do great things! Our goal is to find 412 people to give $412/year for 4 years and 12 months. Those dollars are then matched 1:1 so we can do EVEN MORE cool stuff!
Foundational Sponsors
The foundation of Project 412. These gifts pay for all operating and administrative expenses.
• Mike Brodsho
• Scott & Susan Busker
• Carlson Family Foundation
• Central Market
• Steve & Michelle Daggett
• Frank & Barb Foltz
• Foltz Logistics
• Ken & Helen Foltz
• Mark & Cindy Fritz Family Foundation
• Phil & Dianna Hansen
• Mike & Cheryl Hutchinson
• Matt & Jodie Johnson
• Lakeshirts
• Lakeside Tavern & Brewery
• Long Bridge Bar & Grill
• Dennis & Jeanne Lind
• Michelle & Terry Maier
• Ryan & Chelsea Manke
White Caps
• Midwest Bank
• Dave & Deb Pratt
• PRO Resources
• The Fireside
• The Hotel Shoreham
• Zorbaz
Wave Makers who give $4120/year or more. 100% of this support goes back into the community for all the work we do!
• Action Fabricating, Inc
• Anonymous
• Boys & Girls Club Thrift Store
• Adrienne & Larry Buboltz
• Judith Cherry
• Gary & Paula Christensen
• Marsha Congdon
• Kathy Dickson
• Ross & Paula Gonitzke
• DL Hotel Group
• Eginton Family Charitable Fund
• Steve Evans and Annie Milnor
• Anthony & Karin Gambell
• Josh & Brook Herzog
• Hough, Inc.
• Matt & Jodie Johnson
• Karra & Nate Krump
• Malstrom Electric
• Mithun Family Foundation
• Pro Custom & Security
• Terry & Jane Stallman
• Amy & Mike Stearns
• Team Lab
• Dale & Denise Thompson
• VFW Post 1676
• Washington Square Mall
• Webber Family Motors
• Accessories Unlimited
• Action Realty
• Bruce & Provi Airheart
• Janice & Joe Albanese
• American Family Insurance-Hedstrom Agency
• Anonymous
• Anonymous
• Anonymous
• Anonymous
• At Ease Dock & Lift
• Paul & Joleen Backlund
• Yvonne Bakken
• Chris & Autumn Baumler
• Chuck & Diane Becker
• Bob & Bonnie Bekkerus
• Chris & Mara Bergen
• Tim & Cheri Bergien
• Del & Norma Bergseth
• Don Blanding
• Bluebird Books
• Natalie Bly
• Matt & Amy Boeke
• Hans & Sue Borstad
• Jason Boutwell
• Diana Brennan
• Bucks Mill Brewing
• Mary & Kenneth Brill
• Cindy & Jim Bruflodt
• Mitch & Jackie Buboltz
• Lisa & Charles Buck
• Jessica & Brian Burhans
• Sam & Allie Busker
• Shelby Busker
• Jim & Cheri Buus
• Vicki & Frank Callaghan
• Joyce Campbell & Skip Honke
• Erik & Teke Carlson
• Craig & Mary Beth Caulfield
• Nick Christenson
• Kurt & Chelsea Christianson
• Roger & Kimberly Christianson
• Chuck & Kari Collins
• Cotton Lake Association
• Bob & Christy Daggett
• Dave & Roxann Daggett
• Damien Society
• Design 2 Sell
• Detroit Lakes Lions
• Detroit Lakes Noon Rotary
• Ashley & John Drewes
• Holly & Wade Dutton
• David & Bobbi Edson
• Terry & Barb Eiter
• Jed & Amy Erickson
• Tom & Ann Erickson
• Marlene & Lucho Espejo
• Mary Ann Evans
Wave Makers
• Every Runday, LLC
• Dr. Calvin K Fercho Family Foundation
• Brian & Abigail Ferdon
• Denise Fett
• Shirley Fihn
• Eric & Kristi Flyen
• John Flynn
• Steve & Rhonda Fode
• Kathryn Foltz
• Cathy Fritz
• Greta Fritz
• Mike & Wendy Fritz
• Kimberly Fuhs
• Steve Fuhs
• Eloyce & Gene Gaffney
• Emma Gergen
• Mary Beth & Hans Gilsdorf
• Bob & Diane Gorden
• Brad and Janet Green
• Haga Kommer, Ltd.
• Mark & Karen Hagen
• Michael & Katie Haggart
• Nancy Haggart
• Tom & Janice Haggart
• Peggy & Roy Hammerling
• Howard & Carla Hansen
• Norm & Lisa Hanson
• Marc Hartman
• Georgia Hecock (In Memory of Dick Hecock)
• Matt & Dianna Hedstrom
• Nancy & William Henke
• Jim & Judi Herk
• Michael Herzog
• Josh & Amy Hochgraber
• Keith & Pat Hochgraber
• Lucas & Mackenzie Hoffman
• Sarah & Jason Hofmann
• John Holland
• HomeSmart Adventure Realty
• David & Mary Hunter
• Dave & Terri Hutchinson
• Lauryl Ivers
• Jack Chivers Realty-Blake Olson
• Peter & Ann Jacobson
• Greg & Jenn Johnson
• Lucy Johnson & Tom Tollefson
• Tre’ Johnson
• Pam & Bob Jones
• John & Gail Jordan
• Bonnie Juma
• Kristal Kadrie
• Terry Kalil
• Dave & Maureen Karsnia
• Trish & Ron Kershner
• John & Renee Kerzman
• John & Ruth King
• Heather & Robert Klabunde
• Kerry & Sharon Kligerman
• Tom & Joyce Klyve
• James & Kristine Kenner
• Lee & Ellen Kensinger
• Kenny & Pam Krebs
• Jeff & Deb Krueger
• Patty & Dave LaBarre
• Lake Detroiters Assoc.
• Lakes Community Co-op
• Lakes Sport Shop
• Tanner & Alyssa Lane
• Lauren & Garrett Larson
• John Leberman
• Adam & Sydney Lee
• Richard & Carol Lee
• Roger & Jan Lee
• Sheree Lenz
• Lew & Laurie Lewandowski
• LGM, LLC
• Lilac Homes Memory Care
• Mark & Roxann Lindquist
• Josh & Sara Loeffen
• Lucky Little Learners
• Lucky Penny Trading
• Eric & Katie Lundmark
• Kirk & Diane Lundmark
• Amy & Tom Lundberg
• Samantha Maier
• Garrett & Madison Malstrom
• Markuson-Baer Insurance
• Tom & Lori McCauley
• Andy & Kelsey McCombs
• Carmen & Kevin McCullough
• Kyle Meacham
• Meadowland Surveying
• Tom & Renee Michon
• Chris & Katie Miller
• Darlys & Ed Miller
• Becky & Kevin Mitchell
• Patty & Kent Mollberg
• Tom & Pam Mortenson
• Ellen Moses
• LeAnn & Brant Mouw
• Ron & Gwen Mueller
• Bryce Nelson
• Jade Nielsen
• Nancy Noben-Trauth
• Mike & Betsy Norby
• Holly & Chad Okeson
• Paul & Julia Okeson
• Sid & Laurie Olson
• Stu & Kathy Omberg
• Melissa & Dave Opsahl
• Jennifer Paulsrud
• Linda Pavek
• Ryan & Maree Pesch
• Pat Pfeifer
• PJ’s Properties-Rentals
• George & Sue Portilla
• Paul & Beth Pridday
• PRO Resources
• Judy Quam
• Daniel & Rebecca Rantanen
• RE/MAX Lakes Region - Lisa Jasken
• Kristi & Jon Riewer
• Sandi Roel
• Sam & Moriya Rufer
• Annette Robertson
• S & G Distributions
• Lori & Tim Sayler
• Steve & Sarah Schacht
• Vern & Adele Schnathorst
• Kelly & Mark Schiffner
• Paul & Carole Schornack
• Schultz Garage
• Kara & Joe Schumann
• Dan & Beth Schupp
• Tom & Mary Seaworth
• Charlie Seuntjens
• Kevin & Carol Shipley
• Mike Sidders
• James & Sharon Sinclair
• Jim & Deanna Sinclair
• Vicki & Kelly Skaurud
• Skin Detroit Lakes
• Michele & Jeff Sliper
• Ron & Sandy Sprafka
• Travis & Ashley Stone
• Jeff & Shelly Stowman
• Cindy & Brian Swanson
• Gregory & Christy Tehven
• The Hideaway Resort
• The Real Estate Company of DL
• The Real Estate Company of DL-Chris Nord
• Bob & Dani Thibodeaux
• Pete & Jayne Thielen
• Tom & Trish Thorson
• John & Karen Thorpe
• Tomlinson Schultz
• Trophy House
• Paula Trom
• Tom & Kari Tschider
• TS Dock & Lift
• United Savings Credit Union
• Andy & Nicole Van Dam
• George & Liz Van Dam
• Rich Warner
• Tom & Karolyn Watson
• Dave West and Cheryl Chivers
• Bill & Deb Wickum
• Annell & Kelly Williams
• Fred J. Williams
• Shawna & Gregory Willson
• Brad & Deb Wimmer
• Mitch & Deb Wimmer
• John & Connie Wood
Become a Wave Maker!
We can’t do this alone – nor should we! Let’s work together to make our community the best it can possibly be. Thanks to our foundational sponsors who support our operating expenses, each Wave Maker dollar is put 100% back into the community to “Do Cool Stuff” #DCS. As a Wave Maker donor, your financial support will be matched dollar for dollar by a local foundation so we can do even more Cool Stuff!
Make your year-end donation today to support our efforts, receive the added benefit of reducing your taxable income, and to help us make an incredible impact in the coming year!
Help Us Reach Our Goal of Creating 412 Wave Makers!
If paying by check, return completed form with payment to: Project 412, 806 Summit Ave, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Donation Amount: o $412 o $4,120 o Other _________
Pledge: o 4 Year- 12 Month Commitment (5 Years ) OR o One Time Donation
Business Name _____________________________ Phone _________________
Donor Name ___________________________ E-mail ______________________
(Optional) Spouse Name________________ E-mail ______________________
Mailing Address _____________________________________________________
Many Ways to Donate!
o Online at: Project412MN.org o Check enclosed payable to Project 412
o Venmo @Project412 o I want to set up an ACH payment plan
o Charge my credit card #_________________________________________________ Exp. Date _______ /_______ CVC _______ Billing Zip ________________
How do you want to be recognized for your support?
o Name: _________________________________________ o Anonymous Donor
Thank you for supporting Project 412!
Project 412 is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with Tax ID # 88-3176887.
