Visit Ohio’s Dog-friendly Troll Hole Museum
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Bring Your Dog to the Troll Hole Museum
I love trolls and when I learned that the Troll Hole Museum was in Ohio, I knew I would have to visit! The museum is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the World’s Largest Troll Doll Collection which is fantastic in and of itself. What makes it more amazing, is that they also have areas dedicated to the history and stories of Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, and Icelandic trolls. If you have ever owned a troll doll, watched one of the movies, or just love learning about different types of folklore, stop in and book a tour of this museum when you are in Ohio!
Is the Troll Hole Museum Dog Friendly?
I am excited to say that the Troll Hole Museum is dog friendly. Like most places, they do require your pup to be on a leash and well-behaved.
What is the Troll Hole Museum?
The Troll Hole Museum is the result of one woman’s growing troll doll collection and her desire to put it on display. It is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Largest Troll Doll Collection in the world. The owner Sherry Groom has also included different types of trolls and fables from around the world in their collection. You can stroll through the gift shop, grab a coffee in the café, or take a guided tour through the museum.
Where to Stay When Visiting the Troll Hole Museum
The Troll Hole Museum is located in Alliance, Ohio. Though it is a smaller city, you can still find plenty of places to stay in the area when you are traveling through.
Campsites Near Alliance Ohio
If you are looking to camp during your stay, there are several public campgrounds in the area. The price and amenities range quite a bit so make sure you double-check that the site will fit your needs and budget before you book!
- Cutty’s Sunset Camping Resort– $ 57 per night
- McDermott’s Lakefront Campground– $25 per night (pet-friendly)
- Westville Lake Campground– call for rates
Hotels Near the Troll Hole Museum
Use our booking.com link to find the best hotel for your vacation!
Booking.comWhere to Eat When Visiting the Troll Hole Museum
There are plenty of places to eat in town if you get hungry during your visit. Depending on what you are in the mood for, you won’t even have to leave the building!
- Grumpy Troll Coffee (coffee and light food)
- Mad Dogs and Crazy Cats Cat Café and Boutique (coffee, tea, and cats!)
- Panda Garden
- Your Pizza Shop
- Victorio’s Pizza
Troll Hole Museum
The museum is full of all kinds of trolls from Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, Danish, and the popular ones from the movie. Enjoy browsing troll memorabilia in the gift shop or simply enjoy seeing the huge collection of trolls and learning about their history in the museum. Either way, it is definitely worth a trip!
Troll Hole Museum Price and Hours
The museum is open from 10 am – 4 pm Wednesdays through Sundays. Guided tours cost $12 per adult, and I highly recommend booking the tour! The owner does live next door and is open to coming in to do tours outside of normal business hours if you call ahead.
You can also book a private virtual tour if you are unable to make it into the museum or a special after-hours comedy tour!
Grumpy Troll Café and Gift Shop
The gift shop is full of all types of troll dolls and other troll-themed knick-knacks to choose from. Located towards the back of the shop is the Grumpy Troll Café. This is where you can purchase coffee, tea, smoothies, waffles, and other goodies. They have a few small tables and chairs available so you can sit and enjoy your treats.
How long is the tour of the Troll Hole Museum?
The length of the normal daytime tour ultimately will depend on you but plan on it lasting about an hour. It can be longer or shorter based on your interests or questions as you go through the exhibits.
What to Expect at the Troll Hole Museum
The Troll Hole Museum is one of the businesses on Main Street actively working to revive the city of Alliance, Ohio. The building is two stories high and clearly identified as the Troll Museum.
When you first walk in, you will find yourself in the gift shop surrounded by all sorts of trolls and troll memorabilia for sale. About halfway in on the right side is the restroom and a little bit further in is the welcome desk/checkout counter. This is where you can check in or book your tour. At the back of the gift shop is the Grumpy Troll Café.
Just before the bathrooms is a staircase that will lead you to the 2nd floor and the beginning of the tour. This floor is divided into several sections.
The first section has a troll first aid area where repairs on dolls can be made. You will also find a mini troll football stadium and an exhibit inspired by the DreamWorks Trolls movie.
The next area has information about troll legends from around the world. This includes the differences in appearances between each country which I found fascinating.
Walking into the next section, you will be greeted by everything Trolls movie. They have a wide collection of dolls, posters, clothing, and more from popular kids’ films.
The following room will be appreciated more by older visitors as the theme focuses back on the troll legends and the adult movie Troll Hunter. The room is set up to look like a troll hunter’s cabin with items like fake troll nails and teeth. Pay close attention, as there are also signs around the room detailing things like the average lifespan of a troll and their ideal environments.
Once you exit this room, you will be amazed at the artwork in the following forest scene displays. Try to find the trolls hidden in the natural rocks and trees in this exhibit. The artist did an amazing job!
Once you pass this display you will find handmade trolls created by a family in the Smoky Mountains and information about Thomas Damm, the man who made the first troll dolls that began the craze that swept through the United States.
This will lead to the last room on the 2nd floor which is full of the popular troll dolls and Knick knacks from the 80s and 90’s that most of us remember. You can see items including a gown and suit from a troll doll-themed wedding and even Teenage mutant ninja turtle troll dolls!
Once you go back downstairs, you will see the display housing the bulk of the Guinness book collection. At last count, the museum had over 20,000 troll dolls and receives more every month from donations.
The next part of your tour has troll dolls from different creators and exhibits including themed dolls grouped together by holidays and collectibles.
The last section has a path that will lead you through more decorated exhibits with trolls from different countries.
Nearby Attractions:
For ideas of places to visit in the surrounding area, check out these stops. These places are all under 2 hours away.
Unique Museums and Stops Near the Troll Hole Museum:
Dog-friendly Attractions near Alliance:
Why You Should Visit:
Who wouldn’t want to visit a quirky museum dedicated to trolls? I am increasingly finding that the smaller museums are much more interesting than the larger ones. My husband was not thrilled to learn that this was one of the stops on our road trip but he admitted that he actually really enjoyed it. He loved learning the history behind the troll dolls, troll legends, and even how the museum got started! If you are traveling through Ohio, take the time to swing by the Troll Hole Museum.
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