Townsite of Wentz

Wentz was sold by installment. The Two Rivers Ranch Company, Kansas investors who formed in 1910 and hired C. C. Wentz to promote the townsite, asked buyers for one-third down and the balance in ten installments, and let anyone who bought at least 100 acres run cattle on the unsold land. By 1916 the town had a hotel, two schools, two groceries, a meat market, a cotton gin, a lumberyard and a weekly newspaper. A drought from November 1916 to March 1918 defeated every attempt to drill water wells, and most residents left.

What the plaque says

Townsite of Wentz Founded as market center for a 44,000-acre farm development. Thrived for 3 years, 1914-1916. Wentz townsite was named for C.C. Wentz (1872-1957), agent of the Two Rivers Ranch Company. He promoted the townsite for the absentee Kansas landlords, and was also a well-known businessman in West Virginia before coming to Texas. The town grew to have about 200 people by 1916. A limousine was hired to meet each train at Three Rivers and bring the mail to Wentz. A severe drouth in 1917, though, forced most citizens to move. The post office closed, 1921; the two schools in 1948. 1968

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Choke Canyon State Park — 5.6 mi
  A reservoir state park on the Frio River in two units, built after a 1982 dam, with birds, alligators and fishing on land people have crossed for more than 10,000 years.

More markers nearby

• Yarbrough Bend — steps away
• Calliham — 5.8 mi
• First Producing Gas Well in McMullen County and First Gas Pipeline to San Antonio — 5.8 mi
• Louisa Renshaw Covey — 6.1 mi