Last December, Allen Baddour shared a story about a mysterious concrete hippo statue that stood proudly in a tributary of Bolin Creek, before it disappeared. The story captivated the community, and even made the local news:
It’s been gone for almost 30 years exactly. But now, we’ve learned, the 1000-pound concrete hippo is on the way back to North Carolina.
For the past few decades, the hippo has resided in Newport, Oregon with its owner-artist, Gerry Barrett, who reclaimed the hippo from the Mill Race Branch using a crane and a flatbed truck.
But last week, both Gerry and the hippo began their easterly trek back to our area. Here is a photo as it was loaded up and began its cross country journey.

We anticipate the hippo will arrive in Chatham County on Thursday or Friday.

Here is Gerry, before the hippo was loaded up in Oregon!