Morris the Tryon Horse

Just down Trade Street from Nina Simone Plaza on the left is Tryon’s mascot Morris the Tryon Horse. This is seven-foot-tall fiberglass horse is a replica of a toy made by Tryon Toymakers after it opened in 1915. In 1928 a local riding and hunt club commissioned Tryon Toymakers to create a giant version for its horse and hound show. It was later used for parades and other special events, evolving into the town’s mascot, which is why you’ll see Morris mailboxes all over Tryon. This is the fourth “Tryon Horse” as weather and vandals have destroyed or stolen previous versions.