Gruene Texas Things To Do

Gruene History

Ernst Gruene and his wife Antoinette, German immigrants, were the first to settle in 1845 in what is now known as Gruene. Their original house is now a B&B called Antoinette’s Cottage. Being a good German, when Ernest bought his farm he wrote his intentions of opening a beer hall and saloon in the special provisions part of the deed of trust. The seller crossed those lines out and wrote below them that “there will be no beer or spirits manufactured on this farm, nor a saloon or beer house.”

When his son Henry Gruene returned from a long trail ride with enough money to buy the farm from Ernst, he moved into Antoinette’s Cottage until he married and built what is today Gruene Mansion Inn, one of the best B&Bs in Texas. Henry Gruene built a number of houses and planted the surrounding land with the number one cash crop at that time – cotton. Next came the first Mercantile Store in 1878, a cotton gin powered by the Guadalupe River, and a new dance hall (Gruene Hall) which became the center of the communities’ social life.

The death of Henry in 1920 started the downfall of Gruene’s development and good fortune. Henry’s death was followed by the economic disasters of the boll weevil, the depression, and the burning of the original cotton gin. Henry’s family businesses went under and the only establishment that never closed was Gruene Hall.

In 1974, most of the Gruene estate was sold and new businesses were established. Today Gruene is a thriving community and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Fun Things To Do In Gruene

Gruene Texas, what a fun place to spend a weekend. You can have a ball in the quaint town of Gruene, here is just a sampling of what to do:

• tube, swim, or relax on the Guadalupe – just around the corner from downtown Gruene is the Guadalupe River and some tubing outfitters, a place to sit on the deck and sip a cold one as tubers try to survive the rapids, or you can swim, fish, or take a walk – here is a map to the Lower Guadalupe River
• enjoy Gruene Hall – the oldest dance hall in Texas has outstanding live music from some of the best Texas musicians – you’ll have a good time here
• shop, shop, and shop – spend some money in the quaint shops that offer antiques, art, and apparel and stop at the General Store for a soda
• feast on some good food – partake in the excellent cuisine at some of Gruene’s restaurants
• spend the night – to really enjoy Gruene you need to spend the night at one of the very nice Gruene B&B’s

Gruene Texas Map