After over 3 years, I-35 and FM 725 intersection construction wrapping up in New Braunfels
The intersection improvement project on I-35 and FM 725 in New Braunfels, which began in January 2022, is nearing completion, according to a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Transportation, or TxDOT.
Zooming in
The scope of the state-funded project includes operational improvements from the I-35 frontage road to Bobolink Drive, and it is slated to be completed in late summer or fall of this year. The original completion date was September 2023 before the project was delayed due to a change of the retaining wall design and a change in the contractor, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
Read the full story by Managing Editor Sierra Martin.
From river guides to rental gurus: PaddleTx's New Braunfels success story
Stacy Thigpen, along with partners Shane and Nicole Wolf, opened PaddleTx after identifying a need for a high-quality, service-oriented watercraft rental service in New Braunfels.
“I had gone to Shane and talked to him about crystal kayaks, because I'd seen them in San Marcos,” Thigpen said. "I [also] wanted to bring paddleboards back. So we priced [the equipment] out, [and] went up and did the crystal kayaks on my birthday. [Afterwards] we walked right over to [Zelick's Icehouse,] cracked a beer, and looked at one another, and we said, ‘We're crazy for not doing this.’”
The background
Thigpen said the partnership began to form in 2017 when Shane Wolf was managing Rockin’ R River Rides. The company had a boat rental behind the Courtyard by Marriott and had recently lost its captain.
“Shane Wolf, who at that time was managing Rockin’ R, had said, ‘Hey, you want to come drive a boat for me behind the Courtyard by Marriott? I've got a rental back there, and I lost my captain, and I need somebody for the summer,’” Thigpen said. “I could use the extra cash, I have kids in school, [so I agreed.] [It was during my time as captain that] I discovered paddleboarding.”
Thigpen and the Wolfs formed PaddleTx in 2022 after Rockin’ R was purchased by new ownership. They started with six crystal kayaks and 10 paddle boards.
Read the full story by Reporter Parks Kugle.
Indoor children's play studio, coffee shop opens in New Braunfels
The Fun Bug, Play Studio & Parties opened at 2055 Central Plaza, Ste. 108, New Braunfels June 28.
Some details
The indoor children's play studio—locally owned by husband-and-wife duo Clay and Kameron Saur—has a large play structure for children ages 0-6 years old, but it can accommodate children up to 10 years old.
Read more by Editor Amira Van Leeuwen.
City Council takes step toward potential expansion of New Braunfels Civic & Convention Center
New Braunfels City Council approved a $288,500 contract with C.H. Johnson Consulting, Inc. for the development of a market viability study on June 14.
The study—which is being supported by the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund—will look at the potential expansion of the New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center with an adjacent hotel, according to agenda documents.
The overview
The South Castell Visioning Plan identified the center as a key redevelopment opportunity, calling for adjacent uses like hotels, residential units and improved public spaces. The feasibility study with C.H. Johnson Consulting will directly advance those goals by using up-to-date market and financial analysis to determine what is viable, agenda documents state.
Read the full story by Editor Amira Van Leeuwen.
Learn more about 6 transportation project updates in Northeast San Antonio
Here are five ongoing and one future project happening in the cities of Northeast San Antonio.
Ongoing Projects
Buffalo Valley South
The Buffalo Valley South Resurfacing, Rehabilitation and Utility Replacement project includes water and sewer main replacements, along with street rehabilitation, in the Buffalo Valley South neighborhood of Schertz.
Selected streets for the project, those being Mill, 1st, 2nd, Bowman, Lee, Church, Zuehl and Wuest, were chosen from Pavement Condition Index scores that assess local pavement for needed repairs.
Update: A new water main on Zuehl Road and a new sewer main on the west end of Church Street are now complete, according to July 1 Schertz City Council agenda documents.
- Timeline: March-winter 2026
- Cost: $5.3 million
- Funding Source: American Rescue Plan, Schertz SPAM funding
