Fun Things to Do in New Braunfels, TX
Erin and I absolutely enjoy traveling and exploring the Texas Hill Country. We discovered a bunch of fun things to do in New Braunfels, TX. This post will give insight into some of the best fun and historic attractions to visit in and around New Braunfels, TX.
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New Braunfels, TX – The City
The City of New Braunfels was incorporated in 1845 and is known for it’s German and Hispanic roots. New Braunfels covers roughly 45 square miles and has a growing population of over 100K. The Comal and Guadalupe rivers both run through New Braunfels where you will see lots of tubers or others out enjoying the water.
The City also features 41 parks including the 62-acre Fischer Park overlooking the city and the 51-acre Landa Park within walking distance of New Braunfels’ historic downtown area.
New Braunfels is on the easternmost edge of Texas Hill Country and sits between Austin and San Antonio on I-35. It is a primo location with many attractions and a great starting point for many Texas Hill Country adventures.
Fun and Historical Things To Do in New Braunfels
Let’s cover the many of the fun and historical things to Do in New Braunfels, TX.
The Historic Faust Hotel and Brew Company
We stayed 2 nights at the historic Faust Hotel and Brewing Company in New Braunfels.
Shortly after World War I, New Braunfels’ community leaders, led by Walter Faust Sr., developed the Traveler’s Hotel which opened on October 12, 1929. The Travelers Hotel was renamed after Mr. Faust in 1936. The historic Faust Hotel has been designated a Texas Historic Landmark as well as has been placed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
The Faust Brewpub is an onsite bar and restaurant featuring beer-inspired cuisine with a German Brauhaus flare. We enjoyed a dinner there after checking in on our first night.
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New Braunfels Farmers Market
Erin and I visited the New Braunfels Farmer’s Market which was just on the next block over from the historic Faust Hotel and Brew Company.
We always make a point to try to visit a local Farmer’s market as it helps support people like us.
The New Braunfels Farmers Market is dedicated to building a healthy community by providing a Market for local Farmers, Ranchers, Growers, and Artisans to connect with the people of New Braunfels and surrounding areas.
The Market is held every Saturday, year-round, from 9 a.m. – to 1 p.m. in Historic Downtown New Braunfels at 186 S. Castell Avenue.
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The Fischer General Store
Fischer Store is still owned by Hermann Fischer’s descendants, who are focused on preserving and sharing the history of the general store, the family, and the community. The current store was built in 1902! Unfortunately, it was closed on the day we visited but is an extremely cool-looking building.
The Gruene Historic District
The Gruene Historic District was on our list of must-visits and has to be on yours too! This beautiful little historic town is on the outskirts of New Braunfels right on the Guadalupe River. It’s definitely a popular attraction as I think we had to park in the back 40. New Braunfels is a great stopping point for exploring the Gruene and the Texas Hill Country.
National Register of Historic Places added Gruene to thier historic places listing. The Texas Historical Commission awarded the town with a Texas medallion. The Texas travel industry recognizes the town as a premiere attraction for visitors, which is no surprise to its merchants and guests.
Gruene Attractions
Houses were built in various styles — a Victorian cottage (now Lone Star), a large brick home, and a frame house (now Gruene Haus) for the foreman of the cotton farm.
Gruene Mansion Inn
The Gruene Dance Hall
The Gruene Hall, built in 1878, is Texas’ oldest continually operating and most famous dance hall. It has a 6,000-square-foot dance hall with a high-pitched tin roof. It still has the original layout with side flaps for open-air dancing and a bar in the front.
The Old Cotton Gin
A cotton gin (now the Gristmill River Restaurant and Bar) powered by the Guadalupe River was built which supported the cotton industry in the Guadalupe valley.
In 1922, the original cotton gin burned and was replaced by a modern electric model down the road (now Adobe Verde). These are ruins from the original Gristmill.
the Gristmill Restaurant
We had a nice lunch sitting in the Gristmill restaurant. The food and beverages were delicious!!
The Gruene Olive Tasting Company
We picked up some extremely tasty black cherry-infused black balsamic vinegar and some fig-infused white balsamic vinegar. It is quite tasty!!
Uptown Gruene
We visited the Uptown Gruene market on the way back to our car. It had a number of shops and live music.
To see a more detailed post on the Gruene Historic District….
Canyon Lake Dam
We next made the short trip over to the Canyon Lake Dam. Construction of Canyon Dam on the Guadalupe River Mile 303 began in 1958. Canyon Dam was dedicated on April 20 1966. The total cost was $20.2 million.
The dam was constructed to serve two purposes – flood control and water conservation. Flood protection is provided to 157,250 acres of land downstream from the dam. The high canyons of the upper Guadalupe have a channel capacity of 40,000-50,000 cubic feet per second. The channel on the lower Guadalupe River has a capacity of only 13,000-30,000 cubic feet per second; therefore, the lower Guadalupe River Basin had been especially subject to serious flooding. The construction of Canyon Dam on the edge of the Balcones Escarpment has been very effective in protecting the lower Guadalupe River Basin.
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The Historic Faust Street Bridge
The Historic Faust Street Bridge, built in 1887, is an impressive Whipple Truss Bridge that towers high above the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels. The King Iron and Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio constructed the bridge in 1887. This monumental truss structure extends more than 640 feet in length across the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels. Fire scorched the bridge more than 20 years ago, the majestic structure now carries pedestrians and bicyclists.
The county built the Faust Street Bridge within feet of the Guadalupe River crossing of the Old San Antonio Road (or Camino Real). Prior to the completion of the bridge in 1887, travelers often had to wait long periods of time at this crossing until the waters were low enough to ford. The bridge served as a major crossing for all traffic between Austin to San Antonio from 1887 to 1934.
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Landa Park and Murals
The New Braunfels Parks and Recreation Department operates the City’s recreation, athletic, aquatic, and nature programs, along with maintaining 41 parks, including the Landa Park Golf Course, comprising over 700 acres of parkland. Murals are painted in various locations in this beautiful park and downtown as well.
Artists painted murals on the sides of the buildings. It is some incredible art that you have to see for yourself. The pictures don’t give them any justice!
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Downtown Main Plaza and Murals
We next went on foot near the Town Square to take a look at the Main Plaza and the incredible murals throughout.
This is the Camal Country Courthouse. It was built in 1887 and is still in use today. The National Register of Historic Places added the Comal County Courthouse to thier historic places list in 1976. The Texas Historical Commision designated the courthouse as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1993.
This is New Braunfels’ town square and has a number of monuments to the town’s founders and leaders as well as people who have given their lives fighting in various conflicts to keep everybody else free.
Whether you’ve lived, visited, or merely passed through New Braunfels, you’ve probably noticed the colorful displays of public art lining the downtown area. But do you know the story behind them? More than just lively additions to the area’s aesthetic, these murals trace the vibrant history of New Braunfels and invite residents and visitors to revisit the colorful stories and people who have shaped the town’s culture. They are a part of a walking museum so-to-speak. See details in the link below.
New Braunfels Historic Outdoor Art Museum: https://www.nbmurals.org/
To see a more detailed post on New Braunfels Main Plaza and Downtown Murals….
Krause’s Cafe and Biergarten
We were walking around and saw a long mural on the backside of a building.
To see a more detailed post on Krause’s Cafe and Biergarten….
Key Takeaways
- New Braunfels, TX offers a blend of fun and historic attractions, making it a great travel destination.
- Key highlights include the Historic Faust Hotel, Farmers Market, and the Gruene Historic District.
- Visitors can enjoy outdoor activities along the Comal and Guadalupe rivers and explore beautiful parks.
- Cultural experiences abound with murals around the Downtown Main Plaza and local eateries like Krause’s Cafe.
- Overall, New Braunfels serves as an excellent hub for exploring Texas Hill Country and creating lasting memories.
Conclusion
Erin and I checked out the Texas Hill Country but weren’t sure what it had to offer. We planned our trip around 4 hub cities which included New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, Day trip from Fredericksburg to Mason and Menard, Dripping Springs and San Antonio. It was an absolute blast and we didn’t even come close to seeing all the great attractions. I’d strongly consider New Braunfels, and Texas Hill Country in general, for making memories on a trip with your significant other and family.
Check back weekly for future posts on the Texas Hill Country and many other locations to give you ideas, tips, and tricks to make your own fun travel memories.
