HOME OF THE TEXAS STATE KOLACHE

Who doesn’t love a sweet-filled pillow of puffy dough? Certainly not visitors to West, home of the official kolache, the Central European wedding desert perfected by Czechoslovakian households and introduced to this Brazos Region farming community during the late 1800s. West, named in 1882 in honor of the community’s new postmaster, attracted Czech and German immigrants through the turn of the century courtesy of its fertile countryside and access to rail, helping to establish the unique traditions and cultural vitality visitors will find here today. The Texas Electric Railway, or Interurban, route from Dallas to Waco afforded residents easy access to amenities found in larger cities. The kolache is king here in West, where visitors should opt to exit the Interstate and drive into downtown for a taste of the real thing. Czech and German fare dominate the local restaurants and bakeries, including a Gourmet Magazine favorite. The community’s Westfest, a Labor Day weekend celebration of regional heritage that draws thousands of visitors each year, includes live music, polka dancing, a parade, and (of course) all the kolaches you can eat.

Watch the following video to learn more about West's historic downtown. This video was produced for inclusion in the Town Square Walk Around mobile tour.