Everett's Newest Yard Feature
A new resident has appeared in the Upper Ridge Road area of south Everett, joining a regional trend of large-scale yard installations. While Fremont, Ballard, Bainbridge Island, Vashon, Issaquah, West Seattle, and Portland have similar attractions, this location now features a figure named Jaspar.
A reader reported seeing the object while driving through the neighborhood and stopping at a local intersection. The individual returned to the site to confirm the sighting was accurate. Upon visiting the location, a large figure was found standing at a cul-de-sac, positioned in front of a residence painted in blue and yellow tones.
The figure stands over six feet tall and possesses ten toes, eight fingers, and large feet. It features mutton-chop sideburns and a facial resemblance to comedian Buddy Hackett. The surrounding property contains bowling balls, garden stones, metal art, a vintage truck cab decorated with flamingos, and a stuffed primate.
The residents of the home on 76th Street SW are a retired operations manager and a retired special education teacher. The property previously received an Everett Monte Cristo Pride of the Neighborhood award. The residents constructed the figure over the past month. The husband sent a photograph of the installation to the mayor to demonstrate that the property owners were not resting on their previous accolades.
The couple acquired the home in 2003, describing the 1926 structure, which was formerly located on a chicken farm, as an "ugly duckling." The husband is responsible for generating design ideas, while his wife encourages the projects. The couple met in clown school, became engaged three weeks later, and married at a Renaissance fair six weeks after that. They have been married for 42 years and have four sons and five grandchildren.
The husband considered creating a Bigfoot figure for the yard but rejected the idea because of the prevalence of Sasquatch figures in the area, noting that an eight-foot Bigfoot silhouette exists nearby on Beverly Lane. The couple had previously participated in a troll-hunting trail, which may have influenced the decision.
The name Jaspar was derived from a gnome character in the 1967 film *The Gnome-Mobile*. The specific spelling is Jaspar, not Jasper. The name coincidentally matches the traditional gemstone associated with a 42-year marriage anniversary. The residents stated there was no master plan involved in the creation of the figure.
A local resident, who goes by the name Randy, constructed a six-foot-tall troll sculpture named Jaspar using a combination of Styrofoam, cement-fiber sculpting material, rebar, and epoxy resin. The project, which cost approximately $1,000 to complete, was finished with a burlap outfit purchased on clearance at a hobby store. Randy described the process as a learning experience, noting that he aimed to give the figure a hairy appearance without making it look furry, resulting in a character he compared to a Hobbit.
While studying images of trolls to shape the face, the sculpture evolved into a distinct personality. Randy placed the figure on a base to protect its feet during lawn maintenance. Before settling into his permanent spot in the yard, Jaspar competed in the Silvana, Skagit, and Stanwood fairs, where he earned best-of-show ribbons, a trophy, and a $3 check that remains uncashed.
Transporting the heavy figure, which has a 35-pound head, to these events required disassembling the sculpture. Randy explained that he had to remove the head to fit the body into his truck. The troll is now available for public appearances, with plans to attend poetry and music events downtown where the creator’s sons, Logan and Spencer, perform. A chiropractor also suggested reaching out to a relative who owns a pumpkin farm for potential future engagements.
The creator has not yet finished the project, stating that Jaspar is too handsome to be alone. A female counterpart named Opal is currently being created, a name chosen because the opal gemstone represents 43 years of marriage. Readers are advised to look out for the upcoming troll couple.
GIANT TROLL HUNT
Jaspar joins a growing community of troll sculptures in the Pacific Northwest, though his six-foot height makes him relatively small compared to the region’s larger figures, which range from 12 to 20 feet. The most famous example is the Fremont Troll in Seattle, which has held a Volkswagen Beetle under the Aurora Bridge since 1990.
This sculpture predates a series of trolls created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. These include Pia the Peacekeeper on Bainbridge Island, Jakob Two Trees in Issaquah, Frankie Feetsplinter in Ballard, Bruun Idun in West Seattle, Oscar the Bird King on Vashon Island, and Ole Bolle in Portland.
The local collection of these figures is expected to expand this fall. Approximately a dozen additional Dambo trolls are scheduled for exhibition at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and the Northwest Trek Wildlife Park.