As Houston families begin mapping out their summer travel plans, a beloved Texas waterpark is giving thrill-seekers a brand-new reason to hit the road.

Just a few hours from Houston in the Texas Hill Country, Schlitterbahn Waterpark New Braunfels is gearing up for a big 2026 season with the debut of a high-speed new attraction designed for friendly competition and splash-filled fun.

Park officials recently unveiled Wasserbahn Racers, a three-lane mat racing slide that will send riders headfirst down a winding course built into the park’s natural hillside near the Comal River.

Developed by global water attraction company WhiteWater, the new slide is designed to deliver both speed and scenic views as guests race side-by-side toward the finish.

The Wasserbahn Racers attraction stretches nearly 279 feet and begins at a 37.6-foot elevation, allowing riders to build speed through a series of dips and chutes before finishing with a signature splashdown. Riders can reach speeds of more than 24 miles per hour as they race down the course.

One standout feature is a real-time stopwatch clock, making Wasserbahn Racers the only mat racing attraction in Texas where guests can immediately see their finishing times after crossing the finish line. The competitive layout is designed to spark friendly rivalries and plenty of bragging rights among friends and family.

Because the ride is built along the park’s sloping Hill Country terrain, racers will also get sweeping views of the surrounding landscape as they speed toward the finish.

According to park manager Justin Loehr, the new attraction is part of a broader effort to enhance the guest experience at the long-running Texas destination.

“Wasserbahn Racers will be a highlight of a big year for Schlitterbahn New Braunfels,” Loehr said. “Generations of families have built memories here, and the park is excited to introduce an all-new attraction while continuing to enhance classic favorites across the property. We cannot wait to see guests race for bragging rights this summer.”

The 2026 season will also include improvements across several areas of the park, including upgrades to resort accommodations and enhancements to Blastenhoff Tower, Han’s Hideout, the Submarine and Octopus slides, and the Pirate Ship at Surfenburg, along with additional updates throughout Schlitterbahn’s themed areas.

The park officially opens for the 2026 season on May 2, with season pass holders getting the first opportunity to experience Wasserbahn Racers before it opens to all guests shortly afterward.

Season passes start at $95 and include unlimited visits to Schlitterbahn parks in New Braunfels and Galveston, plus admission to Six Flags theme parks and Hurricane Harbor waterparks across Texas.

For many Houstonians looking to escape the summer heat, the Hill Country staple remains one of the state’s most popular warm-weather getaways — and the new racer slide is expected to add even more excitement to the splash-filled tradition.