Founded 1845, became gateway to the Texan western wilderness. Could have been founded on the Medina or the San Saba, Llano, or San Antonio River, but was founded by an 'omen' on the Comal and Guadalupe rivers. Prince Carl Solms, founder, who was from Branfels on the Lahn River, Germany, wrote: "I myself with a troop of twenty-five men proceeded inland to find a place suitable for a town and to make the necessary preparations and investigations, especially as to whether or not there were hostile Indians in that region. It was on such an excursion that I found snow in my tent one morning, which, though it could be rolled in the hand, by noon had melted. Taking this as a good omen, we established our German colony here to which I gave the name New Braunfels." Much has been written about New Braunfels and Comal County. Much still remains to be written. May this boo9k add to incentives.