Schlitterbahn New Braunfels is the water park in New Braunfels, Texas that held the title of World’s Best Water Park for 26 consecutive years. Spanning more than 70 acres along the spring-fed Comal River — about 30 miles northeast of San Antonio — it opened in 1979 with four slides and grew into a two-campus complex with 45 attractions, a scale unmatched by any water park within 200 miles.
The park’s defining advantage is built into its geography: the Comal River’s naturally cool spring water flows through its rivers and pools, keeping temperatures refreshing even at the height of a Texas summer. One admission covers both the original West campus and the newer East campus, connected by a free tram — making Schlitterbahn New Braunfels a genuine full-day, or better yet, two-day destination.
Quick Answer
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels covers over 70 acres and offers 45 attractions split across two campuses — Schlitterbahn West (the 1979 original) and Schlitterbahn East (opened 1991) — in New Braunfels, Texas. It opened in summer 1979, is now owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, and operates seasonally from mid-April through mid-September.
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 iconic castle tower visible from Liberty Avenue. Schlitterbahn East, which opened in 1991, is itself split into three sub-sections: Surfenburg, Blastenhoff, and Tubenbach — each with its own distinct lineup of rides.
For context on how large that is: the park claims four times as many rides and attractions as any water park within 200 miles, and twice as many as any park within 500 miles. One day rarely covers both sides completely, which is why the park offers a discounted second-day add-on at nearly half the gate price — and it does not need to be used on consecutive days.
When Did Schlitterbahn New Braunfels Open?
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels opened in the summer of 1979, though the story starts earlier. Bob and Billye Henry took over a small riverside resort along the Comal River in 1966. They eventually built four waterslides into a 60-foot tower styled after the guard tower of Solms Castle in Braunfels, Germany, and named the new park Schlitterbahn — loosely ‘slippery road’ in German — to honor New Braunfels’s deep German settler heritage.
The park expanded aggressively through the 1980s and 1990s. Schlitterbahn East opened in 1991, the Blastenhoff section followed in 1996, and The Falls complex was added in 2011. The Henry family operated 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 passed into the Six Flags portfolio, retaining its brand and seasonal schedule.
Industry Firsts and Signature Rides
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels has contributed more genuine water park innovations than almost any other park in the world. The Boogie Bahn (1992) was the world’s first inland surfing ride — a continuous sheet wave that lets riders surf without an ocean. The Dragon Blaster (1994) introduced the uphill water coaster, using jet propulsion to push tubes uphill against gravity, a design that spawned imitators across the industry. In 1996, the Master Blaster debuted — now the most award-winning uphill water coaster ever built, rising six stories and stretching over 1,000 feet — and the Torrent became the world’s first wave river.
The Falls, added in 2011, is billed as the world’s longest tubing adventure ride, a circuit winding through rapids, tube chutes, and waterfalls across the Tubenbach section of East. The most recent industry first arrived in 2024: Schatze’s Storybrook Park introduced the world’s first water coaster designed specifically for young children, alongside three themed mini-lands, racing slides, a 1,200-gallon tipping bucket, and more than 70 interactive spray and splash features.
Schlitterbahn East vs. West: Which Side Should You Visit?
Both campuses are covered by one admission and linked by a free tram that departs near the main gift shop on the West side. Schlitterbahn West is the original park, heavily shaded by mature trees and better suited to families with young children. It features seven kids’ play areas, eight tube chutes, a wave pool, swim-up bars with heated pools, and standalone rides like the Cliff Hanger, Congo, and Raging River. It also tends to be the quieter campus during peak summer weekends.
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 park’s marquee long-distance tubing circuit. Practical note: lockers are not transferable between the two parks, so decide on a home base before storing your gear, and plan your ride order across both sides before midday crowds build.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort New Braunfels
Schlitterbahn operates more than a seasonal water park — it is a year-round resort along the banks of the Comal River. Lodging options include traditional hotel rooms, suites, cabins, condo-style vacation homes, and elevated Treehaus luxury suites. Guests staying on the resort property can access the riverfront directly. The Texas Hill Country setting — spring-fed waterways, limestone bluffs, shaded river banks — gives the resort a character distinct from standard theme-park hotels, and the resort has operated on this land continuously since 1966.
Planning Your Visit to This New Braunfels Water Park
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels runs seasonally from mid-April through mid-September. Peak season is June through early August. For the shortest waits, visit on weekdays or arrive after 3 PM on weekends — crowds thin significantly in the late afternoon. Hit the Master Blaster and Dragon’s Revenge early in the day, as those rides draw the longest midday lines. Always check the official Six Flags website for current park hours before your visit, as the schedule changes throughout the season.
General parking is free and first-come, first-served. Tubes, life vests, and boogie boards are included with admission at no extra charge. Guests may bring coolers with non-alcoholic beverages — no glass containers. Shaded picnic areas are also free. If one day does not cover both parks — and for most visitors, it does not — the second-day add-on is available at nearly half the standard gate price and can be used on any operating day, not necessarily the next one.
Awards: 26 Consecutive World’s Best Water Park Titles
Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Award for Best Waterpark has been presented annually since 1999. Schlitterbahn New Braunfels won the award every single year from 1999 through 2024 — 26 consecutive wins, the longest unbroken streak in the award’s history. In 2025, Universal’s Volcano Bay in Orlando ended that run, becoming the first new winner in the Best Waterpark category in 26 years. The record still stands: no other park in the world has come close to matching Schlitterbahn New Braunfels’s 26-year dominance of that category.
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels FAQs
How many acres is Schlitterbahn New Braunfels?
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels covers over 70 acres across two campuses — Schlitterbahn West (the original 1979 site) and Schlitterbahn East (opened 1991) — connected by a free tram shuttle. Together they contain 45 attractions.
When did Schlitterbahn New Braunfels open?
The water park opened in the summer of 1979. The Henry family had operated a resort on the same Comal River property since 1966 before developing it into a water park anchored by four slides on a 60-foot castle-style tower.
What are the two sections of Schlitterbahn New Braunfels?
The park has two separately gated campuses. West is the original 1979 site, featuring tube chutes, a wave pool, and seven kids’ areas. East, opened in 1991, has three sub-sections — Surfenburg, Blastenhoff, and Tubenbach — and holds the major thrill rides and The Falls tubing circuit. One ticket covers both; a free tram connects them.
Who owns Schlitterbahn New Braunfels today?
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation has owned the park since 2024, when it merged with Cedar Fair, which had purchased Schlitterbahn from the original Henry family in 2019. The park continues to operate seasonally under the Schlitterbahn brand.
What season does Schlitterbahn New Braunfels operate?
The park operates seasonally from mid-April through mid-September. Hours vary throughout the season — check the official Six Flags website for current schedules before your visit.
Why is the water at Schlitterbahn cooler than at other water parks?
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels draws water from the spring-fed Comal River, which maintains a naturally cool temperature year-round without mechanical refrigeration. This keeps the rivers and pools refreshingly cold even during peak Texas summer heat.
Get More from Schlitterbahn New Braunfels
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Schlitterbahn New Braunfels, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.