Schlitterbahn New Braunfels sits on the banks of the spring-fed Comal River in New Braunfels, Texas, and has grown from a modest four-slide attraction that opened in 1979 into one of the largest and most celebrated water parks in the world. The name itself is a nod to the region’s deep German heritage — ‘Schlitterbahn’ translates roughly to ‘slippery road’ — and the park was built by the Henry family, who had managed a riverside resort on the same land since 1966.
Over the following decades, Schlitterbahn pioneered a string of industry firsts: the world’s first inland surfing ride (the Boogie Bahn, 1992), the first uphill water coaster (Dragon Blaster, 1994), and the world’s first wave river (the Torrent, 1996). By 2011 the park added The Falls, billed as the world’s longest tubing river. The park was acquired by Cedar Fair in 2019 and passed to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation when the two companies merged in 2024.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: New Braunfels, Texas
- Opened: 1979
- Size: Over 70 acres
- Attractions: 45
- River: Spring-fed Comal River
- Golden Ticket Awards: 26 consecutive wins (1999–2024); Universal Volcano Bay won in 2025
- Current Owner: Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (since 2024)
Industry Firsts and Signature Rides
Few water parks can claim the volume of industry firsts that Schlitterbahn New Braunfels pioneered. The Boogie Bahn, which opened in 1992, was the world’s first inland surfing ride. Two years later the Dragon Blaster introduced the uphill water coaster concept — using a jet propulsion system to push riders uphill — a design that spawned imitators across the industry. The Master Blaster, which debuted in 1996 alongside the Blastenhoff expansion, became the most award-winning uphill water coaster ever built.
The 2011 addition of The Falls section brought the world’s longest tubing river to the park, complete with rapids and tube chutes that wind through a multi-acre landscape. With 45 attractions spread across more than 70 acres, Schlitterbahn New Braunfels offers a wide range of rides for guests of all ages.
Awards and Legacy
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels held the Golden Ticket Award for Best Waterpark — presented annually by Amusement Today — for 26 consecutive years beginning in 1999, the longest winning streak in the award’s history. That record run came to an end in 2025 when Universal’s Volcano Bay in Orlando was named Best Water Park, making it the first new winner in the category in 26 years.
Originally a family-run business under Bob and Billye Henry, the park operated independently for four decades before Cedar Fair purchased it in 2019. After Cedar Fair merged with Six Flags in 2024, Schlitterbahn New Braunfels became part of the Six Flags portfolio, though it continues to operate under the Schlitterbahn brand with its seasonal schedule running from mid-April through mid-September.
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Schlitterbahn New Braunfels FAQs
When did Schlitterbahn New Braunfels open?
The water park opened in 1979, though the Henry family had operated a resort on the same Comal River property since 1966.
Who owns Schlitterbahn New Braunfels today?
The park is owned and operated by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, which acquired it when Cedar Fair and Six Flags merged in 2024. Cedar Fair had purchased Schlitterbahn from the original Henry family in 2019.
How many times has Schlitterbahn New Braunfels won the World’s Best Water Park award?
The park won Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Award for Best Waterpark 26 consecutive years in a row from 1999 through 2024 — the longest winning streak in Golden Ticket Award history. In 2025, Universal’s Volcano Bay in Orlando won the award, becoming the first new winner in that category in 26 years.
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Photo: maotx / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.