Attractions - New Braunfels

Yogi Bear welcomes you to New Braunfels, TexasNear the Lahn River in Braunfels, Germany stands a picturesque castle…the ancestral home of Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels, who was destined to be the founder of New Braunfels in the Republic of Texas.

In 1842 some of the more enterprising German leaders formed the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas, called the Adelsverein and selected Prince Carl as Commissioner General, with pull authority over the Texas colonization. The first immigrants of the Adelsverein set sail for Texas in September 1844 on the Brig Johann Dethardt. Hundreds of immigrants landed in Galveston in November and made their way in one-mast vessels along the coast to Lavaca where they set up camp two miles west.

Here Pastor Ervendberg held Christmas Eve services under the open sky. Prince Carl provided a Christmas Tree in Texas. On the advice of a Texas Ranger, Prince Carl purchased land in an area near the springs known as Las Fontanas that formed a river called the Comal River that flowed into the Guadalupe. By the new year of 1845 other settlers arrived and all began their trek along the Guadalupe River until they arrived where the Comal River joins the Guadalupe. It would be there on Good Friday, March 21, 1845, that New Braunfels was founded.

On a bluff above Comal Creek, Prince Carl built a palisade where the settlers pitched their tents. Not far away a mission stood where, almost a century earlier, Spanish friars brought Christianity to the Indians. Later, Prince Carl set up headquarters for the Adelsverein on a nearby hilltop.

There, on April 28, he outlined a fort he named, “Sophienburg” for his fiancée, Sophie, and raised the flag of King Friedrich August, whom he once served. That same day, a large group of colonists assembled at the Main Plaza and raised the flag of the Republic of Texas, a block from there plans for an onion domed log church were underway.

New Braunfels was originally intended as simply a way station and supply base, but by the 1850s New Braunfels was an active center in commerce and the fourth-largest city in Texas after Houston, San Antonio, and Galveston.

German immigration would forever change Texas…adding to the diverse cultures already present.

By the 1880s downtown New Braunfels offered a unique contribution to Victorian-era architecture.Yogi Bear welcomes you to SCHLITTERBAHN - World's Number 1 Water Park

By the 1900s, fortunes from cotton and manufacturing allowed many building owners to experiment with new architectural styles.

Several owners of older Victorian buildings constructed new 1910s and 1920s style buildings with emphasis on display windows. It was during this period that most of the downtown buildings were constructed.

Today New Braunfels is still known for our German Heritage, Museums, great Eateries and mostly lots of great Water Activity. We have FUN on the Guadalupe River, Comal River and Schlitterbahn, voted America's Number One Water Park 3 years in a row.

MUSEUMS

  • McKenna Children's Museum - New Braunfels - 830.620.0939
  • The Sophienburg Museum - New Braunfels - 830.629.1572
    • www.nbtx.com
    • Dedicated to preserve the history of the settlement of New Braunfels by "The Society for the Protection of German Emigrants to Texas" in 1844-1847 and the subsequent development of this city and area of Texas. The Sophienburg Museum relates the history through the display of artifacts and displays of early life in New Braunfels. The Sophienburg Archives preserves the written history of the area through thousands of collections of personal and public documents.
  • The Comal County Court House - Main Plaza New Braunfels, TexasWelcome to Jellystone Hill Country
  • The Lindheimer Home - 491 Comal Ave. - New Braunfels, Texas
  • Conservation Plaza - 9 restored German buildings - 1300 Church Hill Drive off of Loop 337
  • Buckhorn Barber Shop & Museum - San Antnio Street
  • New Braunfels Railroad Museum & Modelers Club - San Antonio Street on the RR Tracks
  • New Braunfels Fire Museum

COMAL RIVER - Shortest River in the World intersects with the Guadalupe River, the longest river in Texas in New Braunfels. Both rivers offer a wide variety of water sports and fun. For more on the Guadalupe River information click on Canyon Lake activities.

  • Landa Park - Heart of New Bruanfels - 110 Golf Course Dr. - New Braunfels, TX
    • Landa Recreation Department
    • www.ci.new-braunfels.tx.us
    • Miniture Golf, Landa Park Boat House, Landa Haus, Picnic areas, Playground, Train Rides, 2 large Swimming Pools - one Olympic sized the other Spring-fed, Golf and Tennis available also. Summer months there are Concerts in the park.
  • Landa Park Golf Course - 180 Landa Dr. - New Braunfels, Texas
    • www.ci.new-braunfels.tx.us
      • Driving Directions: To Landa Park, Wurstfest, Comal River – Access 306 South and travel to common St. Turn right onto Common Street and travel to Union St. (past Fairgrounds). Turn left at the light.
  • Schlitterbahn Water Park
  • Historic Gruene - "Gently resisting change since 1872 ...."
    • www.gruenetexas.com
    • A quaint town outside of New Braunfels, that was place on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970’s, offers antiques, specialty shops, wine tasting, restaurants and entertainment.
    • Driving Directions: Take 306 E, turning right on Hunter Road and follow into Historic Gruene.Welcome to Jellystone Hill Country
  • Cinema 12 at the Marketplace
  • The Brauntex Performing Arts Theater
  • New Braunfels Circle Arts Theater
  • MORE LINKS in New Braunfels

COMAL RIVER OUTFITTERS

LOCAL NEWS & SPORTS - up to date weather