August 17, 2011 | No Comments | Category: Uncategorized | Tags: activities,land for sale,live in texas,masterplanned communities,New Braunfels,premier homesites,san antonio,Texas Hill Country,texas land
San Antonio is one of the most unique cities in the country, with an interesting history, and one of the largest populations. Even though it is the seventh largest city in the country, many people notice the small-town feel whenever they visit.
San Antonio is constantly buzzing with exciting events and things to do. Home to the annual Fiesta and Stock Show & Rodeo celebrations, countless conventions and San Antonio Spurs NBA games, the city stays true to its heritage, educating visitors and residents alike with exciting activities available throughout the year.
One of the most unique aspects about San Antonio, however, is the people that comprise the city. San Antonians are friendly and down to earth, and no matter what part of town you visit, they are willing to always greet you with a smile and show you the quickest route to the Alamo.
Since San Antonio is so big, surrounding areas have also become very desirable places to call home. Just North of San Antonio you will find the Texas Hill Country, consisting of New Braunfels, Boerne, San Marcos, Gruene and other small towns along the outskirts of town. San Antonio is unique in that it was a planned community that was able to grow and expand along with the population.
Havenwood at Hunters Crossing – just miles north of San Antonio on the way to Austin – has land available for sale, with sprawling views of rolling hills and close access to the Texas wine trail. Learn more about leaving near San Antonio by visiting our website today!
August 10, 2011 | No Comments | Category: Uncategorized | Tags: activities,amenities,community tour,downtown gruene,Havenwood,land for sale,live in texas,masterplanned communities,New Braunfels,New Braunfels land,premier homesites,rural,small town,Texas Hill Country,texas homesites,texas land
Those who live in the Texas Hill Country will tell you – nothing beats the genuine, charming feel of a small, Texas town. After all, there are so many tremendous benefits to living just outside a major metropolitan area.
First, small towns have a strong sense of community. The phrase “everybody knows everybody” carries a lot of weight, because smaller towns are quieter and have less people, allowing you and your family to enjoy the built-in community with your neighbors. Plus, smaller towns tend to support local business, keeping the economy strong.
Also, small towns ten do experience less traffic and the annoyances of taking a long time to drive from one place to the next. When most people imagine bit city life, the first thing that comes to mind is traffic and smog, but you won’t get that in the quiet Texas Hill Country.
Overall, the New Braunfels and Gruene areas have one of the least instances of crime in the state – yet another reason why families prefer to raise their children in small towns. Peace of mind knowing that your children are free to roam about and ride bikes with their friends is priceless!
Havenwood at Hunters Crossing is just miles away from San Antonio and Austin, so residents have easy access to the hustle and bustle of the city while enjoying the relaxing and laid-back atmosphere of your small town. Visit our website to learn more about the unique aspects that small town life has to offer, and let one of our sales representatives show you the homesite of your dreams!
July 27, 2011 | No Comments | Category: Uncategorized | Tags: activities,community tour,Havenwood,land for sale,live in texas,masterplanned communities,New Braunfels,retirement,Texas Hill Country,texas homesites,texas land
The Texas Hill Country is known as one of the most popular and relaxing places to retire in the country, and there are several distinct reasons why.
Location, location, location. Most retirees choose to live in the Gruene and New Braunfels areas simply because of its popular location. Havenwood at Hunters Crossing, located in the Gruene area, is near several towns and metros including Austin, San Antonio, Kerrville, Fredericksburg, San Marcos and Bandera.
The Hill Country is also one of the most affordable places to live in Texas. Cost of living in the area is much lower compared to the rest of the U.S., and land is affordable. Imagine being able to build your dream home on the ideal plot of land, among rolling hills and large oaks trees!
Nearby amenities and activities such as museums, schools for continuing education opportunities, as well as easy access to medical facilities is also an important factor for retirees looking for their next home. The Texas Hill Country has award-winning, reputable hospitals within miles.
Overall, the Texas Hill Country offers retirees unbeatable activities, beautiful views and a decadent lifestyle. All of the area natural attractions and ideal warm weather make it the perfect place to call home. For more information about retiring in Texas, visit our website.
July 20, 2011 | No Comments | Category: Uncategorized | Tags: activities,bed and breakfast,downtown gruene,gruene,gruene events,Gruene history,Havenwood,land for sale,live in texas,local events,New Braunfels,premier homesites,Texas Hill Country
One of the many things to love about visiting and living in the Texas Hill Country is the access to so many historic, unique bed and breakfasts in the area. The Gruene and New Braunfels areas in particular are packed with hundreds of the quaint homes that allow guests to relax and enjoy area scenery from shaded porches, german-inspired food and even the occasional farm animal sighting! Here is a list of places in the Gruene area that will give you a taste of what Texas living is all about:
The Gruene Mansion Inn Bed & Breakfast is located near New Braunfels, Texas in the historic community of Gruene, Texas. It offers quaint, historic rooms and mouthwatering home-cooked meals against the scenic backdrop of the Guadalupe River. The Mansion Inn shares the town with a number of other rustic Bed & Breakfasts, making Gruene an ideal place to soak up some Texas history. For a complete list of New Braunfels and Hill Country B&B’s, click here.
Gruene Homestead Inn: This country inn is located in New Braunfels, Texas, just outside of the Gruene Historical Disrict situated on eight acres of an original German homestead.
Gruene Apple Bed & Breakfast: For a relaxing family weekend or a romantic getaway, sample warm homemade biscuits, swim in the natural stone pool and gaze upon the Guadalupe river or historic Gruene from your private balcony.
Miss Milburn’s B&B: Beautiful cottage-like bed & breakfast located close to downtown and Gruene and shopping areas. Experience warm comfortable beds and hill country cooking.
Accents of Gruene: Constructed in the late 1800s, this historical home’s brick chimney’s and rosy brick walls transport you to a different time. Spacious breezeways and a lush garden make this the perfect visit.
Gruene River Inn: Located on the banks of the Guadalupe River, guests can take part in the antique shoppers paradise nearby, or simply enjoy beautiful and panoramic views.
Do you have a favorite Texas Hill Country Bed & Breakfast? Tell us about your stay! To learn more about making the Texas Hill Country your permanent home and building a dream house, visit us on our website.
July 13, 2011 | No Comments | Category: Uncategorized | Tags: activities,Havenwood,land for sale,live in texas,New Braunfels,New Braunfels land,premier homesites,Texas Hill Country,texas land,Water Park; New Braunfels; Schlitterbahn
The heat of summer drives thousands of Texans to the waters edge each year, seeking relief from the sun’s rays. Be it a pool, a river or a simple sprinkler rotating on the lawn, summer fun is epitomized in plastic floating devices, snorkels and the water.
Deep in the Texas Hill Country in New Braunfels, scenic Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort guarantees the perfect solution to beating the heat. The name Schlitterbahn is a German term loosely translated as “slippery road,” and rest assured, there is plenty of adventure here, including raging rapids, towering waves and plunging waterfalls. The Waterpark boasts dozens of water slides, children’s water playgrounds and miles of inner tube chutes. Schiltterbahn’s Master Blaster uphill water coaster has even received national recognition! Surrounding the Rapids, relax on one of the sandy beaches or unwind in a giant, oversized hot tub as you sip a refreshing drink at the swim-up bar.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort is built along the spring-fed waters of the Comal River. The Resort began in 1979 with only 4 water slides, and has since grown to stretch over more than 65 acres. The New Braunfels park now has over 3 miles of inner tube rides, 7 water playgrounds for children, 17 water slides, 9 tube chutes, and the World’s First surfing and boogie boarding machine. The park’s watersource is also quite noteworthy, in that all of the water used in Schiltterbahn West is pumped from the Comal River that flows along the southern boundary. The water is filtered after use (no chemicals are used in the cleaning process) and is deposited back into the river, making Schiltterbahn extremely eco-friendly and environmentally conscious.
Country living in New Braunfels is enhanced by it’s small-town appeal, and the nearby attractions. Schlitterbahn Waterpark has been highly ranked and praised by various world travel publications and is often mentioned on the Travel Channel as an excellent place to visit. Soak up some country charm and spend a day amongst the waves!
July 7, 2011 | No Comments | Category: Uncategorized | Tags: activities,amenities,community tour,downtown gruene,gruene,gruene events,Gruene history,Havenwood,land for sale,live in texas,local events,masterplanned communities,New Braunfels,New Braunfels land,premier homesites,restaurant,Texas Hill Country,texas land
Just north of New Braunfels lies a small town that is anything but ordinary. Gruene, Texas dishes out a healthy dose of Hill Country charm and a sense of community that can be matched by few. Antique shops, restaurants, bed-and-breakfasts and Texas’ oldest dance hall entice visitors, with many of these businesses occupying original buildings from the town’s beginning in the mid-1840s. The Historic District is a thriving collection of “mom and pop” stores and restaurants that flourish and remain true to their small-town foundations.
When visiting a place like Gruene, one of the best ways to experience it is to indulge in the local flavor. The Gristmill River Restaurant and Bar, which is the original cotton gin, offers flavorful dishes that are guaranteed to make your mouth water. Under the protection of several giant oak trees, or perhaps in front of one of the stone fireplaces, sink your teeth into a juicy steak or a heaping burger. After dinner, head to the Gruene General Store (the original mercantile building) and pause for a drink at the soda fountain. As the sun sets, visitors and locals alike can relax on the spacious patio of The Grapevine and sample New World and Texas wines by the glass or bottle. Down the road, toes are free to tap as music springs to life at Gruene Hall where live music is available almost every night.
For the avid antique enthusiast, the mercantile building, which once held dry goods and housed Gruene’s original bank vault, is now home to the Gruene Antique Co. In this impressive Texas Landmark Building, 6,500 square feet of antiques, gifts and collectibles can be found. Lone Star, originally a Gruene family cottage, offers an eclectic assortment of furniture, gifts, candy, dinnerware, candles and accessories.
Preserving the authenticity of Gruene has been a long-time focus for those that love and protect the town. It is this that makes it an ideal and inviting place to come and slow your pace for a weekend and experience living history. Whatever your fancy, this small piece of the Texas landscape will delight and rejuvenate.
Plan your stay today! Visit www.gruenetexas.com for more details. Interested in living in Gruene? Havenwood is a special, masterplanned community adorned with majestic oak trees and rolling hills. You can enjoy the hill country sunsets from the porch of your very own custom-built home at Havenwood, with acres of land to explore. For more information on Texas hill country homesites, visit HavenwoodTexas.com.
June 29, 2011 | No Comments | Category: Uncategorized | Tags: activities,gruene,gruene events,Havenwood,land for sale,live in texas,local events,masterplanned communities,New Braunfels,premier homesites,restaurant,Texas Hill Country,texas homesites,texas land
Everyone knows that the Texas Hill Country has a relaxed state-of-mind – even down to the way people dress and the things they do for fun. After all, flip-flops are the choice footwear of most residents and visitors the majority of the year, and tubing the Guadalupe or Comal rivers involves nothing other than laying in a tube to soak up the sunshine!
So, it just goes to show that those who live in Gruene love their restaurants the same way. Local favorite, Gruene River Grill, is the newest member of the Clear Springs Restaurant Family, which are known for their larger-than-life fried catfish and homemade onion rings. In fact, most of the menu items at Gruene River Grill are made from scratch.
The atmosphere of the restaurant is often raved about, with a relaxing patio overlooking the river. There is also a newly-remodeled wine room that seats up to 22 people, and serves rare, unique wines from around the world.
And of course, to round out a hearty, home-cooked meal at Gruene River Grill, you can’t forget their Crème Brulee made with real vanilla beans or their Fudge Nut Brownie with vanilla ice cream.
Have you been to Gruene River Grill? What’s your favorite Gruene or New Braunfels area place to dine?
June 22, 2011 | No Comments | Category: Uncategorized | Tags: activities,downtown gruene,gruene,Gruene history,live in texas,New Braunfels,New Braunfels land,Texas Hill Country,texas homesites,texas land
Gruene, Texas is a lively and vivacious community nestled in Texas hill country within the city limits of New Braunfels. Gruene’s history speaks of the rise of a town, its fall from prosperity, and its reinvention in the 1970s, turning it into the remarkable place it is today.
In 1872, first generation German American farmer Heinrich D. Gruene purchased 6,000 acres of farmland and planted cotton. It was Gruene’s second son, Henry D. Gruene that made cotton the number one cash crop in the area and a hub for shipping and banking. This attracted families to the surrounding areas, causing Gruene to grow. A mercantile store was built, and the town sprang forth, prosperous and successful. Unfortunately, the Depression and other economic factors led to the collapse of the family business in 1920. The town fell into disrepair and became a shadow of its former self.
It remained so until 1974, which brought about the arrival of Pat Molak. Seeking an environment different from that of the big city, Molak discovered the ruins of the once-thriving Gruene, and began to breathe life back into the flourishing community that stands today. Molak restored the town’s genuine look by renovating many of the buildings and houses and turning them into prosperous businesses. It is interesting to note that several of the houses that Henry D. Gruene originally built are still standing and in use today. A large frame house that Henry built for the foreman of his farm is now Gruene Haus and his Victorian cottage is now Lone Star. What is now Gruene General Store was once the town’s first mercantile store, and the cotton gin, which was powered by the Guadalupe River, is now Gristmill River Restaurant and Bar. Gruene Hall was once a dance hall and saloon, the small community’s main source of entertainment at the time.
Because of Molak’s work, Gruene has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, and many of the buildings that were rescued have been awarded a Texas medallion from the Texas Historical Commission. It is also sought by visitors and is thought of as a premiere attraction. Beginning with Gruene and carried on by Molak, this is truly a Southern treasure!
June 14, 2011 | 1 Comment | Category: Uncategorized | Tags: activities,community tour,gruene,Havenwood,land for sale,live in texas,masterplanned communities,New Braunfels,premier homesites,restaurant,Texas Hill Country,texas homesites,texas land
It would take all day to rattle off all the reasons why living in the heart of Texas is an experience like no other. However, is there actually anything to back it up? Publications like U.S. News & World Report, in addition to CNN and Yelp.com have become trusted online ratings indicators from those who know best – consumers. If you ever wondered where the Texas Hill Country ranks in terms of categories like job growth, places to retire, or even the best restaurants, see our list below.
- Hill Country named among small towns to “Retire in Paradise,” CNN/Money Magazine
- Austin #1 on Kiplinger’s Best Cities for the Next Decade
- Austin in Top 10 Best Places to Live, U.S. News & World Report
- Austin ranked as one of Best Places to Live, CNN/Money Magazine
- Austin ranked as one of Best Places to Retire, CNN/Money Magazine
- San Antonio ranked as one of Best Places to Live, CNN/Money Magazine
- San Antonio named “Great Place to Live,” Sperling’s Best Places
- San Antonio named one of “Best Places to Live,” Relocate.com
- Texas Workforce Commission says the unemployment rate in the Central Texas area saw a 0.4% drop to about 6.9% from February 2010 to February 2011
- The Comal Independent School District – 12 schools rated “Exemplary” and 10 schools “Recognized.” Several schools recognized with Gold Performance Acknowledgement (GPA) Awards by the TEA for outstanding performance
- Nearby restaurants Liberty Bistro, Friesenhaus, Red Rooster Café, Gruene River Grill and the The Gruene Onion Grill voted as best New Braunfels –area restaurants by Yelp.com users
For more information on living in Gruene, visit the Havenwood website, or schedule a tour today.
June 8, 2011 | No Comments | Category: Uncategorized | Tags: activities,gruene,Havenwood,land for sale,live in texas,local events,masterplanned communities,premier homesites,restaurant,Texas Hill Country,texas homesites,texas land
One of the most well-known restaurants in the Texas Hill Country is the Gristmill. If ever asked for suggestions on a great place to enjoy a chicken fried steak and a breathtaking view, locals will point you in the direction of this historic restaurant and bar.
Situated on a hill overlooking the babbling Guadalupe River, the Gristmill is reminiscent of a treehouse situated around majestic oak trees.
In 1922, the Gruene cotton gin processed crops raised by area farmers until the wooden structure tragically burned to the ground. All that remains of the water-powered mill today is the three story brick boiler room, which now serves as the main part of the restaurant and bar.
The Gristmill’s most popular dishes include their steaks and homestyle hamburgers, as well as catfish, grilled chicken and enormous sandwhiches. They also have an adjoining bar with great win and fresh-squeezed lime margaritas.
For more information on the Gristmill and to make your reservations, visit http://www.gristmillrestaurant.com/
San Antonio is one of the most unique cities in the country, with an interesting history, and one of the largest populations. Even though it is the seventh largest city in the country, many people notice the small-town feel whenever they visit.
