Welcome Home, Isak Heartstone

Isak Heartstone is now officially re-opened to the public. After months of hard work and collaboration between the Town of Breckenridge, Breckenridge Creative Arts, and the Breckenridge Tourism Office, Breckenridge’s famous 15-foot-tall wooden troll is ready to receive visitors once again in his new home. Isak’s creator is Danish artist Thomas Dambo, who specializes in making imaginative art pieces from recycled materials. Dozens of his creations can be seen around the world. Isak, of course, is our favorite. 

Isak became a popular attraction in Breckenridge last year after being installed on a local trail near a neighborhood. Almost overnight, his popularity soared and soon tourists came from far and wide to pose with Isak, unexpectedly creating crowd and traffic hazards for nearby neighbors. Neighborhood concerns were taken seriously and Isak was removed from his original location. Fortunately. a new home in a more desirable location was agreed upon and Isak has been relocated to his new home in a space that allows visitors to enjoy him and better accommodates his presence and popularity. A little bit like you and your family finding the perfect home in Breck!

As part of the collaboration efforts, when Dambo reinstalled Isak, the Town of Breckenridge staff worked to construct a new trail, “Trollstigen” or “Route of the Troll,” specifically to make it easier for visitors to see Isak. Constructed by the Town of Breckenridge’s open space crew and a local contractor, a flagstone and wooden pathway leads visitors from a picnic area to Isak and back. The path encourages people to stay on the trail, which prevents trail widening as well as damage to the surrounding forest. Stone benches have been added to the viewing area for those who wish to stay longer and visit with Isak.  Approximately 200 feet of winding wooden boardwalk was installed through the forest adjacent to Illinois Creek. Thanks to these efforts and the collaboration of so many, in late June 2019 Isak officially reopened to the public.

We want everyone to enjoy this exciting and fun addition to the Breckenridge experience, but we also want to preserve the peace and beauty that draws visitors here. Please consider using alternative transportation to see Isak and to keep him available to the public for years to come. Options include public transportation or hiking or biking to and from the trailhead.  Isak is a quick 15-minute walk or five-minute bike ride from the Breckenridge Welcome Center at 203 South Main Street. The Breck Free Ride bus loops every 15-20 minutes throughout town and regularly picks up at the Breckenridge Transit Center, next to the base of the BreckConnect Gondola, and outside of the Breckenridge Welcome Center.

Please help keep Isak around for as long as possible by not climbing on him! 

Other more subtle artworks are also installed on public land throughout Breckenridge from past International Festival of Art events. In a series called Trail Mix, Breck Create organizes music to be played near some of these installations. 

Isak is located at the end of a trail that begins in the upper left-hand corner of the Stephen C. West Ice Rink parking lot on Boreas Pass Road. Just follow the giant footsteps in the parking lot!