 Many of the founding lay members of the temple are Thai women who married American servicemen stationed at the base.A sizable community of Thais, as well as Cambodians and Laotians, desired a center for traditional Buddhist practice as well as ceremonies such as weddings and funeral rites.So, in 1986, a farm site was purchased and arrangements were made with the Council of Thai Bhikkhus to have monks sent to Del Valle to found the Wat Buddhanannachat of Austin Temple.