This Week in New Braunfels
Flash Flood Threat Forces Comal River Closure, City Activates Emergency Response
The City of New Braunfels closed the Comal River to all recreational activity this week by order of the Chief of Police, citing intense rainfall and rising water levels. The New Braunfels Fire Department deployed swift water rescue boat crews and converted squad units to high-water vehicles. The National Weather Service warned that conditions could change drastically and suddenly, urging residents to maintain multiple reliable ways to receive alerts day and night.
Canyon Lake Surges to Nearly Full After Historic Rainfall
Canyon Lake jumped from roughly 60% capacity to 95.6% full in just two days, gaining nearly 100,000 acre-feet and rising almost 14 feet — its highest level in years. The rapid rise was driven by cumulative storm runoff across the Hill Country, with flood waters from the northwest also expected to move through Comal County. The lake now sits under two feet from its conservation pool level.
Comal River Reopens, But Officials Warn of Submerged Debris
Following the flood closures, New Braunfels reopened the Comal River, though officials cautioned that submerged debris may still be present as cleanup continues. No lifeguards were on duty the first day due to the late reopening, with normal staffing resuming the following day. River Acres Park also returned to public access.
Texas Water Co. Issues Boil Water Notice for Parts of Comal County
Texas Water Company issued a boil water notice for portions of Comal County after flooding elevated turbidity levels in the water supply. The notice follows Mayor Michael French's public statement addressing the two-day storm event and its impacts across the area. Residents in affected zones should confirm current notice status before resuming normal water use.
Hill Country Day School Under Construction, Set to Open Later This Year
Founder Haleigh Almquist and enrollment director Ashley Willingham confirmed this week that Hill Country Day School is actively under construction and on track to open before year's end. The school represents a new private education option for families in the area. The Downtown Rotary Club of New Braunfels also made news this week by granting funds to the Humane Society of New Braunfels Area to cover free microchipping for up to 500 animals.
Real Estate Market
New Braunfels enters the back half of July with a housing market that remains active despite the week's disruptions. Median prices sit at $365,000 for single-family homes and $354,000 for townhomes, with the entry point for condos around $315,000. At those price points, a buyer putting 20% down on a median-priced home is looking at roughly $1,900 per month in principal and interest — a figure that matters more as buyers grow increasingly deliberate about what they're committing to and where.
This week's flooding is worth noting in the context of property evaluation, not panic. Riverfront and low-lying properties along the Guadalupe and Comal carry real flood risk that should be factored into any purchase decision — insurance costs, FEMA flood zone status, and historical inundation patterns all deserve scrutiny. A listing like the Sleepy Hollow Lane riverfront estate at $1.65 million — 2.39 acres with over 100 feet of Guadalupe River frontage — is an exceptional property, but events like this week's closure and debris warnings are part of what owning on a Hill Country river actually means. Buyers should go in clear-eyed.
For sellers, the broader demand picture hasn't shifted materially. New Braunfels continues to attract buyers from outside the region, and inventory remains the more significant variable in day-to-day market behavior. The addition of Hill Country Day School to the area's private education options adds another signal that the community's infrastructure is deepening — the kind of institutional growth that tends to support sustained housing demand over time rather than speculative spikes.