Gruene Historic District — Attraction in New Braunfels

Historical district of shops in downtown area is nice but probably won't mean much unless you go to the Conservation Center first, 1300 S. Church Hill, and see their short film on the history of the settlers first. Lovely old homes to go thru there too, our favorite over the shops. Just down from there, heading back to the town of Gruene is the Museum of Historical Furniture with 2 more fascinating houses, my favorite, the "cabin", a crude pioneer dwelling with a vestibule or "dog run" as sometimes called, connecting its two tiny rooms. It is set just right to catch cool breezes even during the area's often blistering hot humid summers. One of main reasons we returned here was to study the direction of this little building's breezeway before building our own country home. Honestly, it almost feels air-conditioned.

Only drawback, shops...

Gruene Historic District is an absolute gem! This charming little town is full of character, with quaint shops, rich Texas history, and a laid-back vibe that makes for a perfect day trip. A highlight is Gruene Hall, the oldest dance hall in Texas — it’s not just historic, it’s legendary, having played a key role in launching George Strait’s career.

There are plenty of great food options throughout the district, and we chose to dine at the Grist Mill Restaurant, which was lovely — delicious food with a beautiful setting. We also stumbled upon the cutest putt-putt course we’ve ever seen, adding a fun and unexpected twist to our visit.

Whether you’re into music, history, food, or shopping, Gruene has something special to offer. Don’t miss this unique and vibrant spot — it’s truly a...

Cookie cutter boutiques, the antique shop won't be around for much longer and the antiques themselves aren't anything special, everything is overcrowded, horrible parking everywhere, the only good spots are the pottery shop, the blacksmith (they have classes where you can make a small knife out of a railroad spike!), and the place that sells fossils. The potters are very nice, the blacksmiths are very nice, and the fossils in the one shop are cool. Everything else is moneygrabs and tourist traps.

At least they finally paved the big parking lot.... which only has two entrances for hundreds of people.

Come for the clay festival in October, leave the place...