On the Range: Eastland's Old Rip
By: Sam Nichols
Updated: July 8, 2010
The Texas Horned Lizard is a creature of contrasts - fierce in appearance, yet harmless to all but insects. The species may be threatned today, but in legend and lore, it has always been a survivor.
Near Abilene, the town of Eastland is home to the best-known horned lizard of all time - Old Rip. In 1897, the cornerstone for the Eastland county courthouse was being set, and Ernest Wood has his son put his pet horned lizard into the cornerstone.
Old Rip was sealed up in the cornerstone for thirty one years, and when the cornerstorne was opened, Old Rip was still alive.
Old Rip's hibernation made him famous around the United States, and today, eighty years later, visitors still stop by Eastland county to pay their respects to Old Rip.
