The history of the Christmas Tour of Homes goes back to 1993, when Don and Genny Hensz wanted to create a fundraising event for our predecessor organization, the New Braunfels Republican Women (NBRW). So they decorated their home from head to toe with Christmas decorations and charged $1 for admission per person. It was a great success!
That simple act created an annual tradition that has endured to this day. Beginning the very next year, four homes were featured on the initial Christmas Tour of Homes (including the Hensz home). The information below takes you through the first five years of our tour. The $5.00 admission price seen in the advertising graphic below, stayed steady for the five years that followed. Man, those were the days.
Christmas Tour of Homes History
1994 Christmas Tour of Homes
The Hensz’ home was decorated with a Christmas Tree in every room, including one in the Living Room with an amazing 5,000 lights and spinning Austrian crystals. The home was decorated with nativity scenes, and Santa’s, and elves, and stuffed animals, and angels, and much, much more.
Three other homes were also part of that first Tour. The Belton house (which was used again in 1995 and 1996 Tours) was built in 1845 and was part of the original Veramendi Land Grant.
The West’s home on Fox Glen not only included a Nativity scene honoring Cristabel’s home country of Guatemala, but she also decorated another room with the depiction of the first Holy Night.
The historic Kuebler Waldrip Haus Bed and Breakfast on Hueco Springs Road is still open today for business. The stunning property with its amazing building architecture and furnishings made it a favorite stop.
1995 Christmas Tour of Homes
In addition to the Belton house, the 1995 Tour included the home of Robbie Borchers, one of the original NBRW members. Robbie is still very active in Republican politics in our area today.
The 1995 Tour also included an early 1900’s built farmhouse that was moved to Schwarzlose Lane and restored by Merritt and Iris Schumann. The house was originally built by Rudolph and Frieda Timmermann Zipp.
Just down from the road from 1994’s Hueco Springs Bed & Breakfast, was the home of Rick and Carolyn Reed. They described their home at the time as a cross between a blend of the “Old South”, with a touch of German “fachwerk” (timber-framed) . The home was decorated with many family favorites and beautiful antiques.
1996 Christmas Tour of Homes
In 1996, the 1845-built Belton home was again featured. Now instead of being 149 years old, the house turned a cool 151.
The home of Dona Bruns on Saddletree in Landa Park Highlands was also included on the tour. She decorated her home in traditional Christmas fare, with poinsettias and garlands surrounding her classic collections.
The Guadalupe County home of Warren and Cheryl Williams on Normandy Grace in New Braunfels, included a number of different trees, including their “Toy Tree” which was decorated with dolls, stuffed animals and an occasional bear. They also decorated their home with multiple nativity scenes from all over the world, and finished things off with a beautiful Nutcracker collection.
Last but not least was the Gruene Country Homestead Inn located on 832 Gruene Road. Another property still in business today, it featured the Texas House, the Faust House, the Farmhouse and the Country House. The bed & breakfast locale was decorated with antiques and Christmas cheer.
1997 Christmas Tour of Homes
For the 4th Annual Christmas Tour of Homes in 1997, the NBRW added a fifth home to its growing event. The McElroy home on South Gilbert near the Comal River was built on the former New Braunfels Bottling Works site. The main home, built in 1935, was filled with many antiques, as was the barn built in 1855 by a German immigrant in Seguin and relocated to the McElroy property.
The tour returned to Guadalupe County with the home of Doug and Anne Louise Miller on Chelsea Street. Their 4,000 square foot home’s main feature was a 12 foot high Christmas Tree in their living room that was decorated with lovely plaid bows and 1,200 lights.
Joe and Jenny Bradley’s home on the corner of W. Edgewater Terrace and Allen Avenue is a very unique stone home built in 1935. Originally built as an 1,800 square foot home, the Bradley’s added another 400 feet of living space a few months before the Tour came to visit. The stone home of course had a rock fireplace and many, many eclectic furnishings and decorations.
The home of Dr. Harold and Ruth Fischer on S. Seguin Ave near W. Coll St. was also on this tour. The house today has been converted into office space for a local law firm.
The final house on the 1997 tour was on Lakeview. We’re not sure what lake it was in view of, but we are sure it was a treasured part of that year’s tour.
1998 Christmas Tour of Homes
The final year of our look at the history of the Christmas Tour of Homes included 5 locations again. The 1998 tour took place less than two months after the devastating floods that wreaked havoc in our area on October 17th of that year. Although we’re sure there was probably talk of cancelling the event, it did move forward and took place on Saturday, December 12th that year.
One of the stops was the house of Fritz and Cora Jane Welsch on Diamond Trail (off Oak Run Parkway). The home had a modern setting, filled with Christmas heirlooms and decor galore.
On Elm Creek Road, near Quail Pass, was the country home of the Bomke’s. Nestled in that scenic area, the home provided a cozy setting to celebrate the Christmas season of 1998.
As you head up the hill on Fredericksburg Road, across from Landa Park, the restored home of the Barker family was featured. This historic home was a unique stop on the 1998 tour.
In the Mission Oaks neighborhood of New Braunfels, on Trail View, was the Mediterranean-style Quoyeser house. This folk decorated house featured a spectacular “Noah’s Ark”.
The final house on the tour was a home, then a Bed & Breakfast, and now a boutique hotel. In 1998, the then named Karbach Bed & Breakfast (from the famed New Braunfels Karbach family), was the crown jewel of the Christmas Tour of Homes. Built in 1906, the mansion is now the boutique hotel known as Sophie’s Gasthaus.
This Year’s Tour
Thank you for looking at the first five years of Christmas Tour of Homes history. The 2025 tour is scheduled for Saturday, December 6th from 10am to 4pm. Tickets are on sale now. You will be touring seven beautiful homes in the community of Vintage Oaks. True to the season, these festive homes will get you into the Christmas spirit. To secure your purchase, just click on the logo below.
