Rochelle combines local railroad and cemetery history with a hunting opportunity for guests at Champion Ranch. In eastern McCulloch County, Rochelle’s history spans cattle ranching in the 1890s, the establishment of its cemetery in 1896, the completion of the Eden–Lometa line in 1912, and the abandonment of the tracks through Rochelle in 1959.

Location and Early Community History

Rochelle is located on U.S. Highway 190, about ten miles northeast of Brady. The approximate distance and its location in eastern McCulloch County help put the community on the map.

A look at the mid-1890s shows how strongly the early community was shaped by cattle ranching: Rochelle had 30 residents at the time, most of whom worked in this industry. The hunting opportunity for guests at Champion Ranch adds an earlier connection to ranching.

Railroad and Rochelle Depot

The railroad’s history includes several developments that can be distinguished by time and place. In 1912, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway completed a line between Eden and Lometa. In 1959, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway abandoned the tracks that ran through Rochelle itself.

The Rochelle Depot also tells the story of the local railroad. The first depot burned down and was replaced around 1912 by a half-timbered building. In 1956, the building was moved to its current location and used as a community center. The depot’s relocation in 1956 came 44 years after the completion of the Eden–Lometa line and three years before the tracks through Rochelle were abandoned. Half-timbering is a construction method in which a load-bearing wooden frame forms the walls, with the spaces between the timbers filled in.

Rochelle Cemetery and the Community

Rochelle Cemetery was established in 1896, when Willoughby transferred one acre of land for the cemetery. Its history also extends to a later change in the settlement: in 1903, the community and schoolhouse were moved about two miles northwest to the new Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railroad. The cemetery continued to serve the community afterward. Seven years passed between the cemetery’s establishment in 1896 and the relocation of the community and schoolhouse in 1903. One acre is approximately 0.4 hectares; a distance of about two miles is approximately 3.2 kilometers.

The cemetery contains nearly 500 graves, including 105 that are unmarked.

What May Determine Your Stay

The historical themes span several decades, while the ranch offers a specific activity. Which aspect matters more to you depends on whether you want to base your stay more on local history or on this ranch offering.

Discover more destinations: Brady

For the broader travel overview: McCulloch County.