Historic district centered on Texas's oldest continually operating dance hall, set along the Guadalupe River within New Braunfels.
General Information
How to Get There
From New Braunfels (3 mi): Take I-35 to Exit 191 (Gruene Rd/FM 306), head west on Gruene Road approximately 1.5 miles, then turn left (south) onto Hunter Road and continue about 1 mile into the historic district to Gruene Hall at 1281 Gruene Rd.
Overview
Gruene (pronounced "Green") is a tiny, beautifully preserved German settlement on the Guadalupe River, now a historic district within New Braunfels. Its few blocks pack in the oldest continually operating dance hall in Texas, restored 19th-century buildings turned shops and restaurants, and a laid-back charm that belies a genuine boom-and-bust past.
German cotton farmers led by Ernst Gruene and his son Heinrich settled the area along the Guadalupe River in the mid-1800s, building a mercantile store, cotton gins, and the dance hall that still bears the family name. The boll weevil blight of the 1920s and the Great Depression gutted the local cotton economy, and by 1950 Gruene had become a virtual ghost town. A preservation effort begun in the 1970s got the district listed on the National Register of Historic Places and restored its historic buildings — including the old cotton gin, now the Gristmill River Restaurant, and the Gruene Family Home, now the Gruene Mansion Inn — sparking the tourist revival that defines Gruene today. Spring and fall bring the most pleasant weather for walking the district, while summer is hot but peak season for tubing the Guadalupe.
Things to Do
Catch a Show at Gruene Hall
Opened in 1878, Gruene Hall is the oldest continually operating dance hall in Texas, hosting live music from local performers and nationally known artists in an unmistakably authentic setting. Weekend evenings bring the liveliest atmosphere, with the biggest touring acts.
Browse the Historic District
Restored 19th-century buildings throughout the district house boutiques, antique stores, and local shops, including the iconic Gruene General Store, which sells Texas-made products, candy, and gifts.
Sample Local Wines
Wineries and tasting rooms in the district pour Texas wines, often with live music and outdoor patios.
Float the Guadalupe River
Gruene sits right on the Guadalupe River, one of Texas' most popular tubing destinations, with outfitters nearby renting tubes for a float down the river in warmer months.
This article is based on publicly available information about Gruene, Texas, as well as material from the Wikipedia article "Gruene, New Braunfels, Texas", used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
