Howdy, Hutto. If you remember, not too long ago I mentioned that what looked like a dinosaur track had been found right here in Hutto. Well, we’ve got an update: a paleontology expert with the University of Texas has now confirmed that the track really did come from a dinosaur. Pretty cool. I’ve got more on that down below.

Something else caught my attention while I was listening to a recent City Council meeting: Hutto has some surprisingly complicated liquor laws depending on where a business is located. I started digging into it and found that the rules around who can serve mixed drinks could affect restaurants like Buffalo Wild Wings, LongHorn Steakhouse, and other future projects around town.

I’m still sorting through some of the finer details, but it was one of those “wait, how does that work?” Hutto stories that felt worth sharing. More on that below, too.

Hope you’re having a great week, neighbor.

Quick local updates from around town.

Dinosaur Tracks | A well-preserved dinosaur track discovered along Brushy Creek in Hutto was confirmed by a UT paleontology expert, who says it likely came from a large plant-eating dinosaur, possibly a duck-billed Hadrosaur.

Future Fire Station | Hutto Fire Rescue has secured property for future Station 6 along CR 132 near CR 134 and the Megasite, with construction timing still dependent on utilities, infrastructure and the pace of development in east Hutto.

Soul Strong Yoga | Soul Strong Yoga opens its second location today at 531 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Ste. 120, bringing yoga, pilates, power yoga, meditation, prenatal classes, and more to town.

AI Manufacturer Moves In | AI Prefab Solutions is making Hutto its headquarters and primary manufacturing base with a nearly 197,000-square-foot facility at Innovation Business Park, where production begins this month and the company plans to add 200–300 jobs by 2028.

Young Entrepreneur | Hutto ISD recognized 11-year-old Jett with a Board Coin of Excellence after he launched his own lawn care business and earned two grants for his entrepreneurial efforts.

Dove Season Starts | Hutto Police says residents may hear more gunfire around dawn and dusk beginning Sept. 1 as dove season opens on nearby undeveloped and agricultural land.

Things to do around town from Tuesday through Sunday.

Fiber Friends
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Tuesday, September 1 • 5:30–6:30 PM
Bring your knitting, crochet, embroidery, or other portable craft for a relaxed evening of making and mingling. Free to attend, with all ages and skill levels welcome.

Hutto Farmers Market
350 Ed Schmidt Blvd.
Wednesday, September 2 • 3:00–7:00 PM
Local farmers, ranchers, artisans, food vendors, coffee, handmade goods, and more.

To-Do Night @ the Library
Hutto Public Library
Wednesday, September 2 • 5:30–6:30 PM
Bring the personal tasks you’ve been putting off—bills, appointments, meal planning, and more—and knock them out with snacks, laid-back music, and a little accountability.

The Office Trivia Night
Cottonwood Creek Brewery
Wednesday, September 2 • 7:00 PM
Put your Dunder Mifflin knowledge to the test with a night of The Office trivia—bring a team and see if your skills are Dundie-worthy.

Autumn Recipe Swap
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Friday, September 4 • 11:00 AM–6:45 PM
Bring a favorite fall recipe to share, then browse the swap and take home a new one to try. Free to participate, with everything from soups and baked goods to seasonal drinks and desserts welcome.

Special Rum Tasting: Ladies Night
Grapes & Rye
Friday, September 4 • 6:00, 7:00, or 8:00 PM
Enjoy a 30-minute guided rum tasting with a welcome drink and three curated pours for $30 per person. Sessions are capped at 10 guests, with advance reservations available through OpenTable and limited walk-in spots.

Cocktail Brunch
Grapes & Rye
Saturday, September 5 • 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
Enjoy cocktails and brunch during Grapes & Rye's weekly Saturday brunch.

2026 Brewery Tailgate
Cottonwood Creek Brewery
Saturday, September 5 • 12:00 PM
Kick off football season with a brewery tailgate featuring a vintage jersey pop-up, cold beer, and the UT vs. Texas State game at 2:30 PM. Wear your favorite NFL jersey and join the game-day crowd.

Crochet for Beginners
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Saturday, September 5 • 12:00–1:00 PM
Learn the basics of crochet in a beginner-friendly workshop with materials included and a take-home kit for first-time students. Cost is $20 per person, and space is limited.

Hutto Silent Book Club
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Sunday, September 6 • 3:00–4:30 PM
Bring any book you’re currently reading for a relaxed afternoon of book talk, quiet reading, and socializing. Free to attend, with no assigned reading required.

A 20-year-old alcohol rule is colliding with Hutto’s growth, and new restaurants like Buffalo Wild Wings are getting caught in the middle.

I was listening back to the Aug. 20 Hutto City Council meeting when Mayor Mike Snyder mentioned something that made me stop and rewind.

Parts of Hutto, he explained, are basically “moist.”

Not dry. Not completely wet. Moist.

What does that mean? In some parts of town, a restaurant can sell you a beer or a glass of wine, but it may not be allowed to serve you a margarita, an Old Fashioned, or another drink made with liquor.

I hadn’t heard much about this before, so I started digging.

And, like a lot of strange Hutto development stories, this one comes down to what the city looked like years ago versus what it looks like today.

Hutto held a local-option alcohol election in 2006, back when the city was considerably smaller than it is today.

Texas alcohol laws allow voters to approve different types of alcohol sales separately. So an area doesn’t necessarily have to be completely “wet” or completely “dry.” Beer and wine sales can be legal while mixed beverages are still restricted.

The other wrinkle is that when a city grows and annexes new territory, those areas don’t necessarily inherit the exact same alcohol rules voters approved years earlier.

That’s how Hutto ended up with a bit of a patchwork.

And now, nearly 20 years after that vote, the issue is starting to collide with some very recognizable new development.

During that Aug. 20 council discussion, Snyder pointed to the new Buffalo Wild Wings being built near H-E-B.

The restaurant wants to be able to serve mixed drinks, but according to Snyder, its application ran into Hutto’s existing alcohol boundaries.

In other words, the restaurant could potentially sell beer and wine but not the margaritas, cocktails, and other mixed drinks you’d normally expect at a Buffalo Wild Wings.

And it isn’t just B-Dubs.

Snyder said the planned LongHorn Steakhouse is dealing with the same issue, along with other projects that haven’t been publicly announced yet.

That’s when this goes from being a weird piece of Hutto trivia to something that actually matters for the city’s growth.

Think about the kinds of businesses Hutto is trying to attract right now: full-service restaurants, hotels, entertainment, and larger mixed-use developments.

Being able to serve mixed drinks can be an important part of the business model for many of them.

The issue even came up during a July City Council discussion about The Gateway at Hutto, the large mixed-use project planned on the south side of town. Snyder noted that the area’s current alcohol status could create problems when trying to recruit restaurants or support something like a convention center.

And apparently, this isn’t a brand-new headache.

City Council was discussing a similar situation back in 2023 after another local business ran into trouble getting a mixed-beverage permit.

So Hutto has known about the problem. The city’s continued growth is just making it harder to ignore.

Yes, but City Council can’t simply change the rules with a vote at City Hall.

Under Texas law, changing local alcohol rules generally requires a petition followed by an election where voters ultimately decide what types of alcohol sales should be allowed.

Snyder said during the August meeting that the city is preparing for a possible election in May 2027 that could address mixed-beverage sales in more parts of Hutto.

There are still some important details we don’t know yet, including exactly what voters would be asked and which areas would be included. No final ballot proposition has been announced.

But it’s something worth watching.

Because the next time you’re sitting at a restaurant in Hutto wondering why you can order a beer but not a margarita, there may actually be a very Hutto answer:

The city grew faster than its old alcohol boundaries did.

Sports news and updates from Hippo Nation.

Hutto came painfully close to starting the Casey Walraven era with a win Friday night, falling 53–50 to Harker Heights in a wild season opener.

The Hippos carried a 44–31 lead into the fourth quarter, but Harker Heights rallied and scored the go-ahead touchdown and two-point conversion with just 14 seconds remaining.

There were plenty of bright spots for Hutto. Jaiden Fields returned two interceptions for touchdowns, Dylan Owens caught three touchdown passes, and Carson Fields added more than 100 receiving yards and a score. Junior quarterback Ethan Carlson accounted for five touchdowns, throwing four and running for another.

The Hippos head south Friday looking for their first win of the season against Converse Judson, another program starting fresh under a first-year head coach.

Judson went 4–7 last season but returns several playmakers, including running back Kayden Graham and four-star receiver Jaymaree Bowens. The Rockets didn’t get to finish their season opener against Johnson after severe weather forced the game to be called during the second quarter, making Friday night their first chance to play a full game this season.

For Hutto, the challenge will be carrying over the explosive offense that put up 50 points against Harker Heights while finding a way to finish after last week’s fourth-quarter comeback.

Tuesday, September 1
Varsity Tennis vs East View • 4:00 PM
Varsity Volleyball vs Stony Point • 6:30 PM

Friday, September 4
Varsity Football @ Judson • 7:00 PM

Get schedules, scores, and more at huttoathletics.com

A running list of businesses, restaurants, and developments headed our way.

Buffalo Wild Wings | 2270 Muirfield Bend Dr. • Buildout underway; opening date TBD.

7 Brew Coffee | 130 Chris Kelley Blvd. • Drive-thru location in development; opening date TBD.

El Pollo Rico | 901 Ed Schmidt Blvd. • Under construction; opening date TBD.

Antioch Pizza | The Co-Op District • Listed as opening soon; date TBD.

HTeaO | Chris Kelley Blvd. • Announced; opening timeline TBD.

Munch Munch Waffles & More | 170 Alliance Blvd. • Buildout underway; opening date TBD.

Jason’s Deli | SH 130/US 79 development • Announced; opening date TBD.

LongHorn Steakhouse | SH 130/US 79 development • Lease announced; opening date TBD.

Pepper Lunch | SH 130/US 79 development • Targeting a December 2027 opening.

Heritage Bloom Fiber Co. | 115 East St. • Soft opening planned for Oct. 10.

Petco + Dollar Tree | 150 Alliance Blvd. • Both under development; opening dates TBD.

Bitewise Orthodontics | The Co-Op District • Opening planned for November 2026.

Glam Nails & Head Spa | 170 Alliance Blvd. • Buildout scheduled through December.

Circle K | CR 119 & Limmer Loop • Under construction.

La Dolce Nail Spa | 20808 SH 130 • Buildout scheduled through June 2027.

Toyota of Hutto | Innovation Blvd. • New dealership under construction; opening date TBD.

Sprouts Farmers Market | SH 130 & US 79 • Construction scheduled to begin this month; opening expected in 2028.

Crunch Fitness | 320 Ed Schmidt Blvd. • Construction scheduled to begin in November; opening date TBD.

Everhome Suites | 2235 Limmer Loop • New hotel planned; opening expected in late 2027.

Residence Inn by Marriott | 328 Ed Schmidt Blvd. • Development approved; construction timeline TBD.

AI Prefab Solutions | Innovation Business Park • New Hutto headquarters and manufacturing operation, with production starting this month and 200–300 jobs planned by 2028.

Blue Origin | Proposed $650 million aerospace project could bring up to 2,000 jobs; county incentives have been approved, but the project is not yet final.

ASML | The Co-Op District • New office planned for more than 100 employees; opening date TBD.

Cottonwood Marketplace | US 79 near CR 132 • Major shopping and dining development in planning; tenants and construction timeline TBD.

The Gateway at Hutto | CR 137/CR 138 • Large mixed-use development proposed with shopping, dining, hospitality, housing, and public spaces; timeline TBD.

Mostly accurate forecast until Texas decides otherwise.

September starts with plenty of heat, with highs staying in the upper 90s all week. There are a few small rain chances, but those could shift depending on a tropical disturbance moving across the northern Gulf and how much moisture it ultimately sends inland toward Central Texas.

🌤️ Tue–Wed: Mostly sunny and hot • 77–98° • ~20% rain chance
🌤️ Thu–Fri: Partly cloudy, with highs near 99° • 76–99° • Best rain chance Friday at 24%
☀️ Weekend: Mostly sunny and staying hot • 75–98° • Low rain chances

👉 TL;DR: Hot, mostly dry

If you found something useful, forward this to a neighbor who’d want to know.

Got something we should include next week? Just reply and let us know.