New Braunfels sits as a quintessential destination in the State of Texas. Located along Interstate 35 midway between Austin and San Antonio New Braunfels is a community that reflects the diverse mix of peoples and cultures that make up the state. Here, in a single day, you can hear expert Mariachi performances, enjoy amazing beef brisket, and see beautiful handmade German needle lace. With such strong heritage and cultural diversity, New Braunfels has a lot to offer visitors: from great tubing along the Guadalupe River, to the outdoor arboretum and miniature railroad at Landa Park, to Wurstfest - a week long festival dedicated to sausage. Tucked away in this fantastic Texas town is the New Braunfels Smokehouse – a product of New Braunfels German heritage and a real gem of delicious smoked meats and locally made sausage.
Opened in 1945 as an ice house to store meat, the Smokehouse began smoking meat using a traditional German smoking method as a way of preserving. The curing of hams and sausage attracted customers far and wide, including travelers on the highway between Austin and San Antonio. For many years, the Smokehouse survived by word of mouth and catalog orders from patrons who had previously stopped at the Smokehouse “tasting room”. Over time, the meats and sausage made at the Smokehouse became more than just a tasty treat along the journey from Austin to San Antonio. The mail order business grew, customers returned repeatedly, and a Texas legend was born.
Today, the Smokehouse stays close to its roots by offering great smoked meats and sausages to its guests. In the Smokehouse, the best place to start your visit is at the tasting table. Here you can sample locally produced beef jerky, smoked sausage, and other products produced by the Smokehouse in New Braunfels. Refrigerated cases along one wall of the shop display all of the locally produced meats. From smoked Canadian bacon, to applewurst, to rich beef and pork sausage – you can browse the wide variety of products offered by the Smokehouse. A new restaurant, added within the last year, makes this a great place to not only sample the smoked meats, but also stop for a meal.
If by the end of your visit you are hooked and want to take home some sausage here is an important tip – bring along a cooler and you can take advantage of one of the bulk sausage specials. Chris and I have visited the Smokehouse twice, and both times picked up multiple packs of sausage and Bratwurst at a discount price. The items are hard frozen, so they will keep in cooler for hours with a little ice.
The New Braunfels Smokehouse is a really great stop for families, RV travelers, or anyone with a big appetite. Ample easy to maneuver parking is available just off of the main parking lot for big rigs or towed campers. Weekends during the summer and Wurstfest are popular times for the Smokehouse so consider a visit either earlier in the day or between the lunch and dinner rush for a low stress visit. Once you have tried the variety of delicious food at the New Braunfels Smokehouse, we are sure you will add the Smokehouse to your list of favorites!
