Schlitterbahn: Fun in the Texas Sun All Summer Long

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When most Texans think of waterparks, Schlitterbahn is typically the first name to come to mind. This year, the family of waterparks turns 40 years old.

Schlitterbahn is a made-up word combining the German words for slippery (Schlitter) and road (bahn). The first Schlitterbahn, featuring four water slides coming from a German-style tower, was opened in New Braunfels in 1979 by the Henry family. There are now five Schlitterbahn locations, four in Texas and one in Kansas City, Kansas.

When planning your own trip to Schlitterbahn, you can read through our guide to each of the four Texas locations. Although each Schlitterbahn has its own unique features, the Schlitterbahn website cites a handful of elements shared by all five locations: tubing rivers, uphill water coasters, Boogie Bahn surfing rides, Torrent Tidal Wave Rivers, and picnic areas.

Schlitterbahn is an enjoyable and convenient entertainment option for anyone. Parking is free and picnic lunches are welcome. Family comes first at Schlitterbahn, so grab some people you love and get ready to make a splash at your nearest Schlitterbahn to help celebrate 40 years of summer fun!

Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort New Braunfels (830) 625-2351 What Makes It Unique: The First and Largest Schlitterbahn Approximate Distance from Brazos Valley: 134 miles Address: 400 N. Liberty Avenue, New Braunfels, 78130

Schlitterbahn New Braunfels is Schlitterbahn’s flagship waterpark, not to mention the closest Schlitterbahn in proximity to the Brazos Valley.

There are four different sections of Schlitterbahn New Braunfels on the 70-acre property, and any single section is as large as almost any entire waterpark in the region, according to Schlitterbahn.

The four sections include The Original Schlitterbahn, home to the signature Schlitterbahn Castle; Surfenburg, where both the Boogie Bahn and the first uphill water coaster were invented; Blastenhoff, which features the Master Blaster, the most award-winning attraction in Schlitterbahn history; and Tubenbach, home to the world’s longest tubing adventure, The Falls.

Each of the four sections has a kids’ area, a swim-up bar, and a signature attraction. With a whopping total of 51 attractions to choose from, Schlitterbahn New Braunfels boasts a variety of both mild and wild adventures to keep kids and families entertained, according to Schlitterbahn.

One of the most unique amenities of Schlitterbahn New Braunfels is the resort, which is more than 50 years old and what Schlitterbahn says is the original combination of a waterpark and lodging experience. Although the waterpark is only open daily during the summer, the resort is open year-round, allowing for guests to enjoy a Hill Country getaway any season. The resort offers a variety of lodging options to accommodate any type of desired vacation — it has the widest range of room types out of any of the three Schlitterbahn resorts, according to Schlitterbahn. There are traditional hotel rooms, Texas Hill Country style vacation homes, Riverbend Cabins, luxury Tree Hauses, and even condominium-style lodging.

Schlitterbahn New Braunfels is ideal for families wanting to make a full-scale vacation out of a trip to the waterpark. As the largest and original Schlitterbahn destination, it attracts many visitors from around the world each year, according to Schlitterbahn.

The park at Schlitterbahn New Braunfels will be open daily for the summer starting May 15. The summer season ends on September 21.

Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston (409) 770-9283 What Makes It Unique: World’s Tallest Water Coaster Approximate Distance from Brazos Valley: 150 miles Address: 2026 Lockheed Street, Galveston, 77554

Schlitterbahn Galveston is both an indoor and outdoor adventure! All the classic Schlitterbahn attractions can be found at Schlitterbahn Galveston, plus a unique perk: the indoor waterpark stays open nearly year-round and has heated pools, according to Schlitterbahn.

There are three distinct sections of Schlitterbahn Galveston — Blastenhoff, Surfenburg, and Wasserfest — all connected by a mile-long Transportainment® river system. According to Schlitterbahn, Blastenhoff is home to the world’s tallest water coaster, MASSIV Monster Blaster, a wave pool called Shipwreck Harbor, and a swim-up bar. Surfenburg has raft rides, water coasters, picnic pavilions, and the Tiki Tikes Kids Area. Lastly, Wasserfest is the name of the 70,000 square-foot indoor waterpark.

Some other notable features of this Schlitterbahn experience, which has more than 33 attractions, include four high-thrill speed slides, two racing uphill water coasters, five kids’ activity areas, whitewater rapids, and the Soaring Eagle Zip Line, according to Schlitterbahn. The park will also open a new ride, Infinity Racers, this summer.

Schlitterbahn Galveston is located right outside Houston on historic Galveston Island, so a day trip could even be turned into a weekend trip to explore Galveston. Schlitterbahn Galveston does not have its own resort, but hotel suggestions are available online. The full park will be open daily for the summer May 17 and operates through September 15. The indoor park is open every month except for February.

Waves Resort Corpus Christi featuring Schlitterbahn Waterpark (361) 589-4200 What Makes It Unique: Recent $8 millon renovation Approximate Distance from Brazos Valley: 261 miles Address: 14353 Commodores Drive, Corpus Christi, 78418

On an island just a mile away from the beach lies Waves Resort Corpus Christi featuring Schlitterbahn Waterpark.

The waterpark features two miles of rivers, according to Schlitterbahn. The Corpus Christi property claims 16 beaches and five types of rivers — wave river, momentum river, swim channel, action river, and river tube chutes — and they are all interconnected.

Beyond the extensive river system, there are plenty of other water adventures for every age throughout the park. There are the thrilling Bahn Bay Blasters and Sky Blaster, the exhilarating Torrent River, and two fun splash zones for kids, according to Schlitterbahn.

The year-round resort at Schlitterbahn Corpus Christi has 92 rooms. Other amenities include a new restaurant called Eats Epicura, a gaming lounge and eSports training facility, a putting green, a driving range, tennis courts, a Bark Park, and a 42-foot outdoor movie theater.

The waterpark will be open daily for the summer starting May 31. The summer season ends on September 14.

For more information go to www.wavesresortcc.com.

Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort South Padre Island (956) 772-7873 What Makes It Unique: Sea Trek, ranked number one Kid-Friendly Attraction by Texas Family Magazine Approximate Distance from Brazos Valley: 400 miles Address: 33261 State Park Road 100, South Padre Island, 78579

Open since 2013, the 25-acre Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort in South Padre lies right on the Gulf of Mexico with its beautiful beaches.

The property boasts a beachfront resort that offers lodging, retail, restaurants, and year-round access for resort guests to the indoor and outdoor convertible waterpark, according to Schlitterbahn. The hotel consists of 216 rooms, complete with meeting and event spaces and a rooftop called Sea4ever with incredible views of the island.

The indoor and outdoor waterparks have a unique mix of attractions, including 24 slides, rivers, kids’ play areas, surfing, and dining options available throughout the park, according to Schlitterbahn. One of the most unique features of the waterpark is the award-winning Transportainment®, which allows guests to relax and stay cool in their tubes while awaiting their particular water adventure. The Rio Aventura is the park’s river system that interconnects all sections of the park.

There are two full-service restaurants on the property, according to Schlitterbahn. There is the Shrimp Haus restaurant, which is adjacent to the waterpark and open year-round. At Shrimp Haus, guests can order anything from shrimp dishes to steak to an all-you-can-eat salad bar, all while enjoying stunning beach-to-bay views. The other full-service restaurant on-site is Seaside Grill, a more casual dining experience located beachfront in the resort area and open to the public.

Some other unique features of the South Padre Island Schlitterbahn include the Soaring Eagle Zip Line, where guests can zip over amazing views of the Gulf and waterpark, and Sea Trek, an underwater helmet diving experience in which visitors can explore marine life in a controlled environment. Snorkeling is also available. Sea Trek is open seasonally at the outdoor waterpark for a nominal fee.

Get the full tropical vacation experience at Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort on South Padre Island. The park will be open daily for the summer starting May 15. The summer season ends on September 15.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.schlitterbahn.com.

* Approximate distance calculated by distance from the INSITE office in Downtown Bryan.