Schlitterbahn New Braunfels is the 70-plus-acre water park on the spring-fed Comal River in New Braunfels, Texas, that holds the record for the longest winning streak in the history of Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards — 26 straight years as “World’s Best Water Park,” from 1999 through 2024, before Universal’s Volcano Bay finally ended the run in 2025.
This guide covers everything you need for an actual visit — how big the park is and how the two campuses split up, the ride history that earned it that award streak, and the practical stuff (hours, tickets, parking, and where to stay) that the highlight reels usually skip.
Quick Answer
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels is a 70-plus-acre water park in New Braunfels, Texas, split across two gated campuses — Schlitterbahn West (opened 1979) and Schlitterbahn East (opened 1991) — with 45 attractions covered by one admission and a free tram. It runs seasonally from mid-April through mid-September under Six Flags ownership, and it holds the record for the most consecutive wins (26 years, 1999-2024) of Amusement Today’s World’s Best Water Park Golden Ticket Award, a streak Universal’s Volcano Bay ended in 2025.
Park Size: How Many Acres Is Schlitterbahn New Braunfels?
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels covers over 70 acres, divided between two separately gated campuses linked by a complimentary tram shuttle. Schlitterbahn West is the original 1979 site, anchored by the castle-style tower visible from Liberty Avenue. Schlitterbahn East, added in 1991, is itself split into three sub-sections — Surfenburg, Blastenhoff, and Tubenbach — each with its own distinct lineup of rides.
The park has long claimed several times as many rides and attractions as any other water park within roughly 200 miles. Because one day rarely covers both campuses, Schlitterbahn sells a discounted second-day add-on ticket that doesn’t need to be used on consecutive days — a practical way to actually see all 45 attractions rather than rushing through half of them.
When Did Schlitterbahn New Braunfels Open?
Schlitterbahn’s story starts before the water park did. Bob and Billye Henry took over a small riverside resort on the Comal River in 1966, and by 1979 they had built four waterslides into a 60-foot tower styled after the guard tower of Solms Castle in Braunfels, Germany — a nod to New Braunfels’s German settler heritage. They named it Schlitterbahn, roughly ‘slippery road’ in German, and the park opened that summer.
Expansion followed through the 1980s and 1990s: Schlitterbahn East opened in 1991, the Blastenhoff section in 1996, and The Falls tubing complex in 2011. The Henry family ran the park independently for four decades before Cedar Fair acquired it in 2019. When Cedar Fair merged with Six Flags Entertainment Corporation in 2024, Schlitterbahn New Braunfels became part of the Six Flags portfolio, keeping its name and seasonal schedule.
World’s Best Water Park: Inside the Record 26-Year Streak
Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards, decided by an international poll of park operators, journalists, and enthusiasts, named Schlitterbahn New Braunfels the World’s Best Water Park every year from 1999 through 2024 — 26 consecutive wins, the longest unbroken streak of any category in the award’s history.
That streak ended in 2025, when Universal’s Volcano Bay in Orlando won the category by less than one percentage point, becoming the first new winner in 26 years. Schlitterbahn still holds the record for the most consecutive Golden Ticket wins ever recorded in any category, and it remains one of the most decorated water parks in the country — the rides and river design that built that streak are still what you’ll experience on a visit today.
Industry Firsts and Signature Rides
Schlitterbahn has introduced more genuine water park innovations than almost any other park. The Boogie Bahn (1992) was the world’s first inland surfing ride, using a continuous sheet wave so riders can surf without an ocean. The Dragon Blaster (1994) introduced the uphill water coaster, using jet propulsion to push tubes uphill against gravity — a design copied across the industry ever since.
In 1996, the Master Blaster debuted as what’s still considered the most award-winning uphill water coaster ever built, rising six stories over more than 1,000 feet, alongside the Torrent, the world’s first wave river. The Falls (2011) is billed as the world’s longest tubing adventure ride, winding through rapids, chutes, and waterfalls across Tubenbach. In 2024, Schatze’s Storybrook Park added the world’s first water coaster built specifically for young children, plus three themed mini-lands, racing slides, a 1,200-gallon tipping bucket, and dozens of interactive spray features.
Schlitterbahn East vs. West: Which Side Should You Visit?
Both campuses run on one admission and connect via a free tram that departs near the main gift shop on the West side. Schlitterbahn West is the original park — heavily shaded, generally calmer, and better suited to families with young kids. It has seven kids’ play areas, eight tube chutes, a wave pool, swim-up bars with heated pools, and standalone rides like Cliff Hanger, Congo, and Raging River.
Schlitterbahn East skews toward thrill-seekers. Surfenburg holds the Boogie Bahn and Dragon’s Revenge; Blastenhoff is home to the Master Blaster, Wolf Pack, Black Knight, Torrent River, and Blast Tower; Tubenbach houses The Falls, the marquee long-distance tubing circuit. One practical note: lockers don’t transfer between the two campuses, so pick a home base before you store your gear, and plan your ride order across both sides before midday crowds build.
Planning Your Visit: Hours, Tickets, Parking & Map
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels runs seasonally, typically from mid-April through mid-September, with the heaviest crowds in June and July. Operating hours change by day and by season — some spring and fall dates run shorter hours than peak summer weekends — so always check the current calendar on the official Schlitterbahn New Braunfels site before you go.
Tickets are cheapest bought online in advance; a single-day ticket purchased ahead runs well below the walk-up gate price, and frequent visitors can save further with a Six Flags Gold membership, which also opens access to other Six Flags and Schlitterbahn parks. The park also sells a discounted second-day ticket for guests who want to split West and East across two visits. General parking is free; a Preferred Parking option closer to the gate is available for an extra fee. Park maps for both campuses are posted on the official site and at the gate, and the free tram is the fastest way to move between West and East once you’re inside.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort New Braunfels
Schlitterbahn operates more than a seasonal water park — it’s a year-round resort on the Comal River. Lodging ranges from standard hotel rooms and suites to cabins, condo-style vacation homes, and elevated Treehaus suites, and guests staying on property get direct riverfront access.
The Hill Country setting — spring-fed water, limestone bluffs, shaded river banks — gives the resort a character standard theme-park hotels don’t have, and it has operated on this same stretch of river continuously since 1966.
Tips for Beating the Crowds
Arrive at gate-opening on weekdays for the shortest lines, and target early June or late August if you want summer water temperatures without peak-July crowds. Bring water shoes for the limestone riverbed areas, and note that outside food is generally welcome in designated picnic areas but glass and alcohol are not — confirm current cooler and bag rules on the official site before you pack.
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels FAQs
Is Schlitterbahn New Braunfels still the World’s Best Water Park?
It holds the record for the longest streak in the award’s history — 26 consecutive years (1999-2024) — but Universal’s Volcano Bay ended that run in 2025. Schlitterbahn still holds the all-time record for consecutive wins in any Golden Ticket category.
How much are tickets to Schlitterbahn New Braunfels?
Single-day tickets are cheapest bought online in advance and cost significantly less than paying at the gate. A discounted second-day ticket and a Six Flags Gold membership (covering multiple parks) are also available. Check the official site for current prices.
Is parking free at Schlitterbahn New Braunfels?
General parking is free. A Preferred Parking option closer to the entrance is available for an extra daily fee if you’d rather skip the walk.
What are Schlitterbahn New Braunfels’ hours?
The park operates seasonally, roughly mid-April through mid-September, with hours that vary by day and by season. Always check the official calendar before visiting, since hours differ between weekdays, weekends, and shoulder-season dates.
Should I visit Schlitterbahn East or West?
West is the original, shadier campus and better for young kids, with kid play areas, tube chutes, and a wave pool. East (split into Surfenburg, Blastenhoff, and Tubenbach) has the bigger thrill rides, including the Master Blaster and The Falls. One admission covers both, linked by a free tram.
How many rides does Schlitterbahn New Braunfels have?
The park has 45 attractions spread across its two campuses, more than any other water park within roughly 200 miles.
Is there a hotel at Schlitterbahn New Braunfels?
Yes. Schlitterbahn operates a year-round resort on the Comal River with hotel rooms, suites, cabins, condo-style vacation homes, and Treehaus suites, and on-property guests get direct riverfront access.
Can you visit both campuses in one day?
It’s possible but tight — most visitors don’t cover both fully in a single day. The park sells a discounted second-day ticket, which doesn’t have to be used on consecutive days, so many guests split West and East across two visits.
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