Along one of Central Texas’ most beloved summer drives sits a hidden gem within a hidden gem, a laid-back Guadalupe River hangout that generations of tubers have quietly turned into a burger-centric tradition of their own.
Tucked just off the winding stretch of River Road, Lone Star Float House & Grill has built a loyal following as part burger joint, part tubing outfitter and part all-day river escape. Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, the mostly weekend-only spot is preparing for its seasonal return to daily summer hours beginning today, Friday, May 22, reopening seven days a week as New Braunfels enters its busiest tourism stretch of the year.
Summer hours will run Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For many visitors, the Float House is the kind of place you discover once and keep coming back to every summer after that. Part burger joint, part tubing outfitter and part riverside hangout, the property works as an all-day stop for people spending time on the Guadalupe.
Float trips range from roughly one to four hours, depending on water conditions and route selection, with many visitors heading straight for “The Chute,” the fast-moving section of the Guadalupe that has become one of the area’s signature tubing experiences. The Float House also offers on-site parking and shuttle service, creating an easy all-in-one setup for visitors spending the day on the river.
That convenience has helped turn the Float House into an alternative to the packed swimming spots and tourist-heavy stretches often associated with New Braunfels during Memorial Day weekend. But the food is what continues pulling people back.
Its signature half-pound burgers, made with never-frozen beef, have become one of the restaurant’s calling cards. The cheeseburger comes in at $14, while the bacon cheeseburger costs $15. Bigger appetites usually lean toward the towering $20 “Double Double” burger or the chili cheeseburger for $16.
The menu reads like classic post-river comfort food: loaded nachos, fried pickles, shrimp baskets, Frito pie and Texas Fries piled with cheese, bacon and jalapeños.
One recent standout, though, was the Texas Cheesesteak. Priced at $12, the sandwich stacks tender fajita steak with grilled onions, bell peppers and melted pepper jack cheese on a hoagie bun. After hours floating the Guadalupe under the Texas heat, it feels almost designed to end a river day in the best way possible.
And on Sundays, the experience stretches beyond the river itself. The Float House hosts “Sunday Serenade” from 5 to 7 p.m., bringing local live music to the riverfront as tubers wind down the weekend with burgers, drinks and views of the Guadalupe.
Find it: 7430 River Road, New Braunfels, TX 78132