Mama Loumari, pregnant with giant child, is resting under the trees with our Wheat twins! She’s fenced off to stay safe due to COVID, but still a delight to touch and see!
“Still a young giant, only 700,051 years
Already a father to two, full of eyes, full of tears
Full of love he was, but felt alone on the mountain
He walked down to the forest, in the forest he found them
His two beautiful children, little Elina and Nis
And their mama Loumari, a hug and a kiss.”
– excerpt from ‘The Great Story of The Little People & The Giant Trolls, While The Weather Got Better’ by Thomas Dambo (giants sculptor)
Share with Friends & Pin it for Later!
This page may contain affiliate links to a product(s). In the event of a sale, I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting my blog!
There’s magic in the forests of Kentucky, magic and giants at Bernheim Forest! Just a half hour outside of Louisville sits 16,137 acres of woods, habitats, wildlife and lakes… and giants. The Forest Giants of Bernheim Forest are the jewels among beautiful, manicured woods with hiking, biking and scenery loops that will feed your soul. These beloved giants have lived there since 2019 but are only scheduled to stay here for 3-5 years, so your time to see them is narrowing! A mama giant lives at Bernheim, Mama Loumari, pregnant with giant child. Also her two giant children, Little Elina and Little Nis. Mama Loumari, pregnant with baby giant boy, Little Nis, her son, and Little Elina, her daughter all live in this giant forest. Behind Mama Loumari is their giant lair with her collectibles she’s saved. It includes a dragon’s skull, a unicorn horn, and many other cool treasures! Little Elina is near her rock garden of boulders filled with fossils. They’re fun to walk and climb and super interesting to inspect and check out. Your kids will love them! Their daddy, Loumari’s husband Isak Heartstone, is currently away in Breckinridge, Colorado. Other giant relatives live throughout the states and even across the world (listed later).
A famed Danish artist, Thomas Dambo, created them like he does all his giants. With local recycled wood and the creativity and love of a uniquely gifted artist. The giants are expected to live here for 3 years, till 2022, so, sadly, they won’t be there forever. They’re well worth the drive, social distancing outside to see them is easy and very safe, so visit them now, before they roam away!
Little Nis is Mama Loumari’s son and Little Elina’s little brother. He enjoy looking at his reflection in the pond, wearing his giant mask for COVID.
The arboretum was designed by famed landscape designer, Frederick Olmsted (designer of NYC Central Park, the US Capitol grounds, Stanford University, the Biltmore, and more). We went in Fall with the leaves turning. It was gorgeous and peaceful and lovely at every turn. The ponds and lakes are brimming with turtles. Watch for their little heads peeking up at you as you walk across the Lake Nevin bridge. There are many benches and quiet spots to take in some relaxing moments and rest, and absorb the peace and natural beauty. You’ll walk through the holly collection of the woods with hundreds of giant holly trees, which was really cool because it felt like we had shrunk! They were blooming with berries which remind me of Christmas. Walking through the giant holly reminded me of Buddy in the Elf movie talking about walking through the candy cane forest. I’ve only seen small holly shrubs before so to see them up to 20 feet tall was quite a sight!
We really enjoyed Bernheim, but the the jewel we were there to see was the giant family and they didn’t disappoint! The giants will delight the whole family, young and old. And the beauty and nature you get to enjoy with it makes for a lovely day.
Little Elina is playing with rocks and has a giant rock garden full of fossils behind her. Walk across the tops, lie on them for awhile, and examine the thousands of fossils in each. Whimsical sculptures are on the path just ahead.
Thomas Dambo has created many lovely giants, not only in multiple states in the US, but throughout the world! They are such a joy to see and a Must See Gem, in our opinion. Wherever you live, they’re absolutely worth a trip and are sure to put a smile on your face. You can’t help but fall in love! ❤️👣 Dambo writes a whimsical poem about each giant family that he creates. Read the story of the Heartstone giant family at Bernheim here. Here are where some of the other members of this growing giant family live:
Some other unique Dambo installations using local resources, even waste, include:
Dambo has many, many other incredible, creative installations around the world, including many that are not giants, at all. See all of his sculptures here.
Over half a million visitors come to Bernheim every year, for good reason. But with over 16,000 acres, you’ll often feel as if you have it to yourself. Bernheim Forest is lovely and worth your time and support if you’re ever in Kentucky. The giants are magical and a delight for any age. You’ll appreciate the craftmanship. Will have to remind yourself they’re not real. And the kid in you will want to come out and play! We drove out of state just to pay them a visit and made it a whole weekend trip. I hope to do it, again, and visit their relatives in other forests! The giants are Must See Gems that you should not miss! Hurry before their time is up and they roam away! 👣
It’s obvious that the forest was designed and curated for maximum beauty, but it’s not overdone to seem unnatural. It’s lovely and to go to one of Olmsted’s creations, in the middle of Kentucky, is a treat!
Good to Know:
There is a Visitor Center with trail maps (also at the main gate), Gift Shop, and wildlife and nature Education Center, but both are currently closed due to the COVID19 pandemic.
Memberships are available and sponsors and donations are gratefully accepted for conservation and education efforts, and feeding the giants!
2075 Clermont Rd
Clermont, Kentucky
More on Thomas Dambo and his giants:
Share with Friends & Pin it for later!
Other Places You May Enjoy:
Full video of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Boat Cruise in Munising Upper Peninsula, Michigan! See the sandstone cliffs, cliff waterfalls & more in the UP!
Everything you need to know to visit Dinosaur World in Florida! A great, low key park, fun for the whole family and awesome for dino lovers!
There are giants in the forests of Kentucky! The family of Forest Giants at Bernheim Forest are magical & Must See Gems!
Each of these deadly disasters have a shocking, unlikely tale. Lives, young & old, cut brutally short, towns were decimated, and families shattered forever.
The DC Monuments at night or day, which is better? I’ll give you the photos, and pros & cons for each DC monument, memorial & site.
Legoland Discovery Center Chicago has 12 attractions featuring rides, build & play zones, & life-sized Lego ‘worlds’, for kids 3-10, it’s a Lego lover’s dream!
The 5 Highlights of Legoland Discovery Center in Chicago , Illinois that you don’t want to miss! Rides, workshops, 4D & more. Something for everyone!
Visit the Oz Museum. Top reasons your family should go! Memorabilia from movies, books, tv & more at the only Wizard of Oz museum in Kansas!
Visit the only Wizard of OZ museum in Kansas, 1 of 3 in the US! Rare pieces from the movie, Wicked, The Wiz, books, tv shows & more.
Look into the eyes of the man-eating lions who developed a taste for human flesh. The only public display of man-eaters, this museum has all 3.
3 of the most terrifying, deadly & largest man-eating lions on record. They terrified thousands. The only known man-eaters on display tmk.
Behind the scenes at the fascinating CDC Museum in Atlanta. See what they do & how as they run to epidemics, plagues & bio terror when the world runs away!
Find out how to tour the CDC museum in Atlanta, Georgia, what you’ll see there & the highlights you don’t want to miss!
Visit the area of the worst nuclear power plant accident in the US, Three Mile Island. 2 million were exposed in 5 tortured days of crisis.
Worst nuclear plant disaster in the US. Two million contaminated. We traveled there to explore the town and surrounding area and nuclear plant for ourselves.
