WECHES

Population 26

Altitude 450

General

A rural community first settled before 1847. Originally called Neches, the citizens chose Weches when a post office application revealed the first name was already in use. A Spanish mission had been established 150 years earlier at large Tejas Indian Village nearby. The town on Texas 21 west of Nacagdoches is within boundary of Davy Crockett National Forest.

Attractions

• MISSION TEJAS STATE HISTORIC PARK-Landmark structure in 363 acre state park commemorates Mission San Francisco de los Tejas, first Spanish Mission in East Texas, built in 1690 to stem the tide of French settlement, but was not successful and closed in 1693. Re-established in 1716, the mission was never prosperous, and with the French threat gone, the mission moved to San Antonio in 1731.

  Also in the park is th e Rice family log home, stage couch inn, one of many originally along El Camino Real (The Royal Highway). Started as a one room building in 1828, hostile Indians forced abandonment for two years, but Joseph Redmond Rice, Sr. returned and built this substantial way station. Camping, picnicking, hiking, and nature study. Park is just southwest of Weches off Texas 21 (about 21 mi. northeast of Crockett). Admission.

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