1. A Visit to the
Best
Landmarks
in Town
With your Tour Guide
Allison Funkhouser

3. Faust Hotel
The hotel opened in 1929 by Walter Faust and was originally called The
Traveler’s Hotel. It was known as one of the best hotels in Texas. Because it
was so close to the train station it became a popular place to stay for
businessmen and soldiers on their way to war. The hotel was renamed The
Faust Hotel in 1936 and registered as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1985. The
Faust is also well known for being haunted.

4. First Protestant Church
This building sits on the spot where the German Protestant Church was built in
1846. It was the first church of New Braunfels. The current building slowly
started in 1875 and was added on through the years. My parents were married
in this church in 2000 with a ceremony that was half English and half German.

5. Naeglin’s Bakery
Naeglin’s began in 1868 in the spot where Liberty Bistro is. It has been at the
current location since 1870. This is the oldest operating bakery in all of Texas.
It was run by the same family for three generations. Even though it is no
longer owned by the Naeglin’s family it still makes great German treats.

6. Downtown Gazebo
This landmark was built in 1905 as the Music Pavilion. Many concerts have
taken place over the years here. It was renovated in 1926 so that a women’s
bathroom could be added underneath. It is one of the most well known
buildings in town and is considered to be the center of New Braunfels. The
gazebo was registered as a Texas Historic Landmark in 2003.

7. Comal County Courthouse
The courthouse was built in 1898 to replace the original courthouse from
1860. It is made of native limestone and has pink granite columns and a bell
tower that rings on the hour. The builder saved money by making copies of
blueprints from the Giddings, TX courthouse built in 1897. It has been changed
and added on over the years, but it is currently under construction to make it
as close to original as possible. It became a Texas Historic Landmark in 1983.

8. Landa Park
This was a popular Indian campsite before the Europeans settled. The land was
first purchased in 1860 by Joseph Landa. The city later bought it in 1936 for
$80,000. The park contains the Comal Springs, which come from an opening in
the Edwards Aquifer, and has 96 different species of trees. It is considered one
of the most beautiful parks and is a popular place for summer concerts, 4th of
July fireworks, parties and Wurstfest.

9. Lindheimer’s Home
Home of Ferdinand Lindheimer. He was a local botanist as well as the editor of
the NeuBraunfelser Zeitung from November 12, 1852 until August 30, 1872.
He published the newspaper in the back of this house. It is now a museum run
by the New Braunfels Conservation Society. The house was registered as a
Texas Historic Landmark in 1936.

10. Schlitterbahn
The name means “Slippery Road” in German. The park was built in 1979 on
the Comal River. It only had 4 water slides around a small version of the guard
tower of the Solms Castle in Germany. Over the years the park has gotten
bigger and added many more rides. It is now 65 acres and is the#1water park
in the world.

11. Brauntex Theatre
Built in 1942. It operated as a movie theatre for 50 years. Over that time it
became run down so a group decided to restore it into a performing arts
theatre in 1998. The theatre reopened on April 29, 2000 with a performance
by the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra. In February of 2012 it ran the
production of the Aristocats starring Allison Funkhouser.

12. Seekatz Theatre
It was built in 1901 by brothers Otto and Louis. It would hold the
Kindermaskenball, Firemen’s Ball, Fourth of July dances and theatre
productions. It later became a movie theatre. A fire destroyed the building in
1941. It was renovated in 2004 so that it could reopen as a beautiful place to
host parties and events.

13. Phoenix Saloon
Constructed in 1871. It was a brewery, saloon and restaurant. The cook, Willie
Gebhardt, made hamburgers and chili seasoned with a mix that later became
famous and sold as Gebhardt’s Chili Powder. In 1922 it became a department
store and later a copy store from 1997-2007. The building was then reopened
using the original name The Phoenix Saloon in 2010.

14. Auf Wiedersehen. Tschüss!