Hugo’s mild winters and slow pace attract circuses and city dwellers
The small town of Hugo, named for author Victor Hugo, has in recent years become a haven for people seeking to escape the hectic pace of city life. Along with competitively priced homes and acres of land, the amenities available to residents are a mix of restaurants, local businesses, a hospital and groceries. “People come here because they want a slower pace,” says Jimmy Chandler, a real estate agent with Caldwell Real Estate who sells throughout Southeast Oklahoma. “They want to be close to everything they need but not be in [a big] town.”
This community has a history of attracting those looking for an escape. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, over a dozen circuses wintered here, and their influence is still felt today in the Elephant themes prevalent throughout the area and the presence of the Endangered Arc Foundation, a local Elephant sanctuary just outside the city.
Suburban feel near downtown, rural charm on the outskirts
Home styles are an eclectic mix including bungalows, Minimal Traditional, ranch-style and manufactured. Lawns are landscaped with grass and mature trees. Residential streets closer to downtown have a suburban feel, with homes sitting close together. It gets more rural out from the city center, with many homes on bigger lots, surrounded by undeveloped land and swathes of mature trees. Prices typically range from $100,000 to about $500,000. Multiacre lots are also available, typically priced between $40,000 and $110,000.
Public schools range from C to B-minus on Niche
Hugo Public Schools serves the city and has a C rating on Niche. Student may start at Hugo Elementary, which earns a C. Then may continue on to B-minus-rated Hugo Intermediate, C-plus-rated Hugo Middle and C-plus-rated Hugo High. The high school’s football team, the Hugo Buffaloes, play at Gene Nesbit Stadium, which was built in 1939.
Parks, playgrounds and lakes offer plenty of outdoor fun
Elephant Walking Trail & Playground is one of the city’s main green spaces, with swings, slides and a path that winds throughout. Ansley Park offers tennis and pickleball courts and a skate park. Hugo City Pool helps keep residents cool in the summer. More recreation options are nearby. “Probably in a 30-minute drive or so, you can visit five or six lakes,” Chandler says. The closest is Hugo Lake, about 14 miles away. Residents with multiacre properties often use their land for camping or hunting.
Shopping, dining and healthcare within the city
Residents shop for groceries at Pruett’s Food or get essentials at Walmart. The Hugo Farmers Market runs from April to October and offers fresh produce. The city’s small downtown district offers local businesses and restaurants like El Pueblito Mexican Restaurant, loved for its quality food and service. Other restaurants are located throughout the city, like local favorite Pit Stop BBQ and Oklahoma-based chain Braum’s Ice Cream & Dairy, which serves fast food burgers and ice cream and sells groceries. Choctaw Memorial Hospital is on the city’s northeast side and has an emergency room.
Seasonal events include pumpkin carving and elephant feeding
The Hugo Rodeo Arena hosts multiple rodeos the weekend after Memorial Day. The Hugo Pumpkin Festival takes place between late September and late November and features scavenger hunts, pumpkin carving contests, and feeding elephants from the Endangered Arc Foundation (EAF), a local sanctuary just outside of the city. While the EAF mostly attracts tourists, it plays a prominent role in the community, offering events throughout the year, including Holidays in the Ark, which runs between late November and late December and offers elephant feeding, crafts, food and more.
U.S. Highways 70 and 271 link Hugo to Paris and beyond
Due to the city’s lack of public transportation, residents get around by car. U.S. Highways 70 and 271 are the city’s main thoroughfares and connect to neighboring cities, including Paris, Texas, about 26 miles away. Paris is also where Cox Field – PRX, the closest airport with commercial flights, is located.
Tornado risk is real but alerts help residents stay informed
Hugo is in Tornado Alley and has experienced major tornadoes in the past that have caused significant damage. The state offers an emergency alert system for residents to stay informed during severe storms.
