Rockin' R River Rides - Gruene — Attraction in New Braunfels

Gift Shop Delights and Essential Tips for a Smooth Day

As you gear up for your aquatic adventure, don't miss the opportunity to explore the gift shop at Rockin' R River Rides. It's a treasure trove of river essentials, perfect for those "uh-oh" moments when you realize you've forgotten something crucial. From sunscreen to shades and everything in between, the gift shop has you covered, ensuring you're fully equipped for your day on the water.

Speaking of essentials, remember to pack a hearty dose of sunscreen to shield yourself from the Texas sun's embrace. And for those items that simply can't take the plunge, a trusty dry bag is your secret weapon against the river's watery mischief. With these tools in tow, you'll be ready to conquer the currents with confidence.

Streamlined Ticketing and Navigational Know-How

For a seamless start to your river escapade, consider purchasing your tickets online before arriving at Rockin' R River Rides. This savvy move not only saves you time but also ensures you're swiftly on your way to the aquatic action without the fuss of waiting in line. Just remember, there are two distinct queues at the entrance, so double-check you're in the right one to make your entrance as smooth as a river glide.

If you prefer paying your entry fee upon arrival, brace yourself for potentially longer lines. But fear not, once you've secured your float, head over to the nearby wristband pick-up area. Here, you'll find a sign laden with invaluable information about potential obstacles, rapids, and the best route to take when the river forks. It's like having a trusty guide steering you through the twists and turns of the Guadalupe's watery realm.

The Bathroom Conundrum: A Cautionary Tale

Now, let's delve into an aspect that may not be as glamorous but is undeniably important – the restroom situation. This year, however, has brought a note of disappointment in this department. The restrooms outside the gift shop area have seen better days, with unsightly clothing items scattered about and a shocking absence of toilet paper. It's a scene that's hard to ignore and even harder to accept, leaving visitors aghast and rightfully perturbed.

To add to the discomfort, the sinks lacked running water and the luxury of soap, leaving handwashing an impossible feat. While it's evident that the building is undergoing renovation, the lack of basic amenities can be a letdown. Perhaps it's a lesson learned – if you can't provide the necessities, a temporary closure might be the wiser choice.

A Glimpse of Relief and a River Revival

But take heart, for as you embark on your river journey, a silver lining awaits. At the put-in, you might spot some of the typically superior portable bathrooms stationed by the river's edge. While we can't personally attest to their cleanliness, they present a ray of hope for a more comfortable pit stop.

In Conclusion: Embrace the Guadalupe's Call

Dear river enthusiasts and seekers of aquatic bliss, Rockin' R River Rides beckons with a promise of exhilarating moments and a touch of cautionary wisdom. Whether you're grabbing forgotten essentials at the gift shop, navigating the ticketing labyrinth, or pondering the restroom realities, your journey along the Guadalupe River is uniquely yours.

As you venture forth, remember that the Guadalupe's beauty and the thrill of the ride far outweigh the minor setbacks. It's a call to embrace the river's serenade, to surrender to the currents, and to create memories that will sparkle as brightly as the Texas sun. So, gather your gear, gather your friends, and embark on an adventure that will leave you smiling, splashing, and savoring every moment along the banks of the Guadalupe. Your Rockin' R River Rides experience awaits – jump in and let the currents carry you to a world of...

I will start by saying, I don't entirely blame the business for what happened during our float, and they did try to remedy it by giving us free passes to come back - or to use another location. The main takeaways for my post if you don't want to read (TLDR): 1. This location should NOT be advertised as a float - it is seriously very dangerous when the water is low, we all popped our tubes and had small injuries from the rocks - I am glad with my injuries being small - it could have been SOOO much worse 2. Aggressive turtles and water snakes everywhere 3. The entire float route is surrounded by private property so there is literally no way to exit unless you go to the end ..

The day started out great - the Gruene location was nice, we did not pay for parking as others have mentioned (not sure why we didn't). The main complaint about the actual location where you sign in and get your tubes are the rest rooms. They were not clean and the water did not work. Also, the entire place was run by children which was very weird to me. There was no one over the age of 20 working the day (Sunday) we went. A kid that looked to be literally 13 was the one to help us into the river and didn't say a word to us- just looked at us and put the tubes in the water (which I understand - I was shy at that age as well).

My main concern and the reason why I am posting is that this route (in my opinion) should NOT be used by this company as an advertised float. It was genuinely super dangerous. I have floated multiple times throughout Texas and have not encountered rocks and rapids like this. We got stuck multiple times on the rocks and it took us 3 hours to just get half way to the first exit. After the second set of rocks we were DONE. Our tubes had all popped and several of us had injuries (nothing super serious - bruises and cuts from the rocks - one girl hurt her back pretty badly and had spasms) . We called the company and asked for someone to pick us up (to which another child answered the phone). They offered to bring us new tubes - which they did. The kid that brought us the tubes told us we were two hours from the exit (which apparently was not correct). Because they wouldn't come pick us up and told me we had to tube down to the end where the exit is - we decided the best option was to call the non-emergency number for the Sheriff. She told us to call 911 to get more precise coordinates for our location - which we then did. An ambulance came and the EMT's found us and were able to escort us out of the back of people's homes (we did not want to trespass on these people's properties - also there were giant staircases we were unsure if the one girl with the back injury could even make it up). Everyone was fine, the EMT's dropped us off at the entrance to Rockin R - which we were then greeted by the location's owners. They told us it had been a misunderstanding and they didn't realize someone was injured - which I literally told them over the phone twice. After the confusion subsided, they did give us free passes to come back - which I won't be using. I understand these things happen and we did sign waivers - but the company should not be using this route. Someone will get seriously injured on these rocks one of these days. I...

TL;DR: Don't use Rocking R. They are disorganized, expensive, rude, and you will get the same river experience using another outfitter who has their act and pricing together.

My Experience: Many years ago, Rocking R was a really great place to use as an outfitter for tubing. They were quick, courteous, and I had almost no downtime from dropping off my keys to being on the river. Now, it's done a total 180 and I actively discourage people from using them when they want to tube.

This summer, I used them twice to tube. The first time, my wife and I were going out to enjoy the day before school let out and all the summer breakers hit the water. After dropping off my keys at the check-in desk, I noticed that there were 4 other people waiting to get on a shuttle. We asked how long the wait would be and were told "20 minutes." 97 minutes later (yes, I actually timed it) we had a shuttle come by and take us to a drop-off location to enter the river. My wife and I did the float and then went up the stairs to take our rides back. After another hour of waiting, we were able to get onto a shuttle and go back to our car. I'm sure we could have gotten on sooner but there were a lot of people cutting in line and the drivers and organizers were not enforcing their place in line. It was only after we decided to cut ourselves that we got on a bus. As we were leaving the pick-up point, I saw that the line had turned into a moss pit around the entrance of the bus that pulled in behind us.

About two months later, I would give them the benefit of the doubt and try them again, since they had been good in the past. That was an incredibly stupid idea on my part. This time we went with my in-laws and their friends. When I was given the cooler tube, I noticed that there was a crack in the side and the drain plug was missing. When I asked for another tube, the person behind the counter said, "it should still work." Having leaks and places where water can melt my ice is not how a river cooler works. I had to insist that I would walk back to the equipment area myself to get it before they traded it out.

After another 90+ minute wait, we were got on our shuttle and were dropped off up-river to float down. Once again, the float down was nice but the mess returned back up when we got to the pick-up point. We waited for an hour before I flagged down a driver. He told me that rafters and drop-offs are taking priority and I would have to get a manager to approve changing the route right now. When I went to the front desk to ask for a manager, I was told that there wasn't one on duty and that "they never really have enough people." I stood by the entrance and flagged down the driver again, this time he just decided to take our group back though "he would probably get in trouble for it."

In the end, I will NEVER use this company again. There are so many other outfitters out there now and you can also get river access to the Comal through Somes park for a fraction of what Rockin'R cost you. If you have a couple people who are willing to coordinate parking, then you can tube the river for MUCH less money and hastle than dealing with...