Historic New Braunfels is a popular attraction in Texas. The New Braunfels Main Plaza was built in 1845. A fountain was then added to the Main Plaza in recognition of the cities fiftieth anniversary in 1895. The bandstand was added in 1905. The New Braunfels’ Comal County Courthouse is across the street from the Main Plaza and was built in a Romanesque style. The courthouse houses a bell tower that announces the hour still to this day. The Historic Gruene Market Days are also very popular and is held the third weekend of every month during February to November. A special Christmas Market is held the first weekend of December.
The Comal and Guadalupe Rivers run through New Braunfels and has made the city an area attraction for water sports. Schlitterbahn has become nationally known for its water activities during the summer months. It is consistently named the number one water park in the United States. The water park has over three miles of tubing, seven children’s playgrounds, seventeen water slides, the world’s first surfing machine and three uphill water coasters. There are also river tubing and paddleboats at the Comal and Guadalupe River locations.
Wurstfest is also a very popular attraction during the fall in New Braunfels. Wurstfest is a ten-day salute to sausage and is held in November. Wurstfest is the largest German festival held in the United States. Wurstfest began in 1961 as a “Sausage Festival”, but was eventually named Wurstfest. The festival included sausage making demonstrations as well as an abundance of sausages recipes that the original German settlers had brought with them from the old country. The 2001 festival featured a Wurstfest Polka Contest and set a new record of attendance for Wurstfest.
Landa Park is a must see for visitors to New Braunfels. Landa Park features giant oak trees and picnic tables. Park Rangers come by picnic tables and collect the ten-dollar table fee. The first table is free to New Braunfels residents. The park features special trails and a small train to ride around the park. The park also has paddleboat rentals for park viewing and water fun. The park also has an arboretum featuring seventy different species of trees. Landa Park also features miniature golf and swimming in spring fed lakes. Landa Park is a very popular summer destination and during the holidays as well.
New Braunfels has become a very popular place in the past few years. It is very close to Austin at 40 miles away, San Antonio at 25 miles away and Houston is 160 miles away. This puts visitors to New Braunfels in close proximity to other Texas attractions such as Sea World and Six Flags.