10 Fun Facts About the Rides at Schlitterbahn New Braunfels
Ayla Lambert
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Located on the banks of the spring-fed Comal River in New Braunfels, Texas, Schlitterbahn New Braunfels helps families beat the Texas heat with 51 rivers, rides and chutes with adventures from mild to wild.
Since we are counting down the days until we reopen next season, we thought it would be fun to share some history and fun facts about water slides throughout the park. How many of these did you know?!
1. HILLSIDE TUBE CHUTE
The iconic castle greeting guests behind the Hillside Tube Chute was modeled after one of the towers at the Solms castle in Braunfels, Germany. German heritage is strong in New Braunfels and the surrounding Hill Country, and this also was created in tribute to one of the founders of the settlement, Prince Carl of Solms.
2. BOOGIE BAHN
Boogie Bahn was the first (ever) inland surfing ride! It debuted in 1991 with the opening of Surfenburg. Surfers from all over the world have tested their skills on our bodyboards against the 50,000 gallons of water a minute on this water ride.
3. LAGOON ACTIVITY POOL
The Lagoon Activity Pool debuted back in 1980 holding 50,000 gallons of water and has seen many changes over the years. Today, there's an in-water volleyball court, a heated swim-up refreshment bar, a rain drop, a waterfall, and nearly an acre of water for fun. Plus the Hillside Tube Chute and the Soda Straws also end in the Lagoon.
4. BAHNZAI PIPELINE
These twin four-story-high tunnel slides were originally opened in 1988. At the time of opening, it was a 250-foot-long slide. Today, Bahnzai Pipeline's nearly 600 feet of twisting fiberglass as riders bank through turns and spiral through drops before splashing down into a pool four stories below the start.
5. HAN'S HIDEOUT
Han's Hideout is a multi-level, five-story-tall water funhouse filled with all sorts of hands-on water play elements that debuted in 1998. There're dumping buckets, water cannons, net crawls, tunnels, slides, and more. But the biggest splash of all, is the bow of old Han's shipwreck dumping 500-gallons of water on everyone below every few minutes.
6. MASTER BLASTER
The Master Blaster opened in 1996 and since has been voted the Best Water Ride in the United States numerous times! This six story tall water ride is over 1000 feet in length. Once in position on the launch platform, guests are sent down a three-story plunge, then back up three stories and into a twisting tunnel. Blastenhoff tower can also be spotted in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over!
7. THE FALLS
The Falls is the world’s longest waterpark ride filled beginning to end with raging rapids, careening waterfalls, and giant waves. This 3,600 foot-long whitewater river ride gives guests the best seats in the house of the grand tour of Schlitterbahn East.
8. RAGING RIVER TUBE CHUTE
While not quite as long as The Falls, this 30+ minute float does take guests from one end of the original section of the park to the other! The Raging River Tube Chute was created in 1988 as the original long-form tube chute ride developed to be just like a real river tubing experience along the Comal River in New Braunfels. Guests can decide to float off into the Congo River, continue onto the Comal River, or exit the ride.
9. CLIFFHANGER TUBE CHUTE
Finding the starting point for the Cliffhanger can be a little challenging! Riders access the stairway leading to the entrance from a walkway that runs midway along the cliffside. This walkway can be reached from the stairs near the Castle Entrance or from the walkway that borders the Comal River. Pro Tip: Because geography makes it a little harder to find, the Cliffhanger often has one of the shortest waiting times of any Schlitterbahn tube chute.
10. DOWNHILL RACER
Originally known as the Schlittercoaster in 1982, Downhill Racer's side-by-side speed slides plunge from the top of the Castle Entrance building. Guests use a foam sled with handles and plunge head-first down a nearly 3-story tall undulating drop and then skim across the surface of the landing zone.
