Hippos, Hippos, & more Hippos

Hutto, TX is the home of the hippo! The Hutto High School mascot is the Hippo. The town has these cemete Hippos everywhere, in front of businesses, schools, homes, parks...you name it, it has a Hippo. You can buy one at the Hutto Home Depot for about $200. They come in a smaller size too. There is a cute store in downtown Hutto called "Everything Hippo." I think every school in Hutto has the Hippo for a mascot including all the elementary, middle schools and the only High School. There are plans for a new High School to be built in a few years. It's going to be a big debate on what the mascot will be. Obviously it can't be a Hippo. For those of you who don't live in the Austin area, there is a story behind the Hippo Mania. I don't know what year, early 1900's, I think, a circus train was going through the small farming community of Hutto. It stopped and the Hippo it was carrying (among other animals) got loose. The entire community looked and looked for this Hippo. She was found stuck in the mud. They worked for many hours to get her out and finally did...since then the town of Hutto has had a love of Hippos. Our family has embraced the love of Hippos; however, we don't have a cement one in our yard....yet. But we do have a small one on our fireplace mantel!