Founders’ Oak

Historical Period: Spanish Missions (1716-1821)

Species: Texas Live Oak (Quercus fusiformis)

Public Access: Yes, the Founders’ Oak is located off Landa Park Drive, near the Landa Park boat dock in New Braunfels.

This tree’s home in New Braunfels is idyllic: a lush park teeming with flora and fauna, reflective spring-fed waters, and bountiful nature trails—and the ancient Founders’ Oak towers above it all. For hundreds of years, humans have been lured by the natural beauty of this spot. The region’s early inhabitants—Native Americans, Spaniards, and the first German settlers (who founded New Braunfels in 1845)—all sought shelter and shade under this massive live oak tree.

When the city of New Braunfels purchased Landa Park in 1936, District Judge John Fuchs (1886–1968) reminded residents of the tree’s essential role in the community: “Tradition says that under yonder oak mass was offered by Abbé Domenech in 1849. It is under this tree that the citizens of New Braunfels came annually on July the fourth to read the Declaration of Independence and to dedicate themselves to the great principles for which it stands. It is here where Hermann Seele, the first school teacher of the colony, conducted group singing of folk, patriotic and classical songs.”

Over the years, the giant tree has grown in both size and popularity. Protected as part of the 51-acre Landa Park, the Founders’ Oak has thrived from the life-giving waters of the Comal River, fed by Comal Springs. It is because of these natural springs, the largest in Texas, that the area was once called Las Fontanas by German settlers, and later, “the beauty spot of Texas.”

German emigrant Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels first arrived in 1844 with the hope of creating a “New Germany” in Texas; by the next year he had purchased 1,265 acres of land, including Comal Springs. By the 1860s, the springs were powering gristmills and sawmills, a cotton gin, and later a hydroelectric plant. Settlement grew out of this industrial activity, eventually making New Braunfels the fourth largest city in Texas. Landa Park also saw an increase in visitors, particularly after the railroads extended their lines into the park. Today, Landa Park is a State Archaeological Landmark, attracting nearly one million visitors annually.

When the park’s famous tree was last measured by Texas A&M Forest Service in 2009, its circumference was an impressive 17 feet and 2 inches, standing about 50 feet high with a 100-foot canopy spread. Due to its advancing age and size, the tree requires limb supports, and a protective brick wall was built around the tree in the 1980s to keep the public at a safe distance.

The area around the picturesque tree has always been a busy hive of activity, popular for picnics, weddings, family reunions, and other celebrations. During a special German Day event in 1936, Texas Governor James Allred (1899–1959) spoke from a platform nearby. Other notable speakers include the youngest person to walk on the moon—American astronaut Charles Moss “Charlie” Duke, Jr., who gave a talk in the 1990s.

During the city’s sesquicentennial celebration in 1985, part of which was celebrated under this tree, the New Braunfels Parks and Recreation Department sponsored a contest to name the “old oak in the park.” Founders’ Oak was the winning entry, coined by 10-year-old Heather Stockhorst.

The Founders’ Oak continues to influence this tree-loving community, remaining, perhaps, the best loved tree of them all.