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“A Walk Back in Time”
A Brief History of Slumber Falls Camp Prior to Purchase
While this land overlooking the magnificent Guadalupe
River has changed dramatically over the last several
millennia, one thing has remained constant. People have
been consistently drawn here for recreation, reflection,
and refuge. While Paleo- Indians and natives of the
Archaic period (9200 B.C.E.- 500 C.E.), did travel
through this region, it is those of the historical
period (1500 C.E.- Present) who left the greatest
imprint. The history of this land is the history of
Native American survival and struggle. Likewise, it is
the story of Spanish explorers and German immigrants who
endured to establish the great Republic of Texas. The
focus of this brief narrative is the last three hundred
or so years in which we find the most accurate oral and
written history of this unique twenty plus acre parcel
which has had many different names, two of which are
definitely fitting, Paradise of the Hills and of course,
Slumber Falls.
Pre-historical Period (500-1500 C.E.):
It was during this period that people began to settle in
the land we call Texas. A nomadic, independent lifestyle
gave way to more advanced social stratification and tool
technology. There were large and complex groups of
Native Americans such as the Caddo, primarily of East
Texas. The Caddo traded with tribes outside of the
region. They were also mound builders who had a complex
pagan religious system. Many of the tribes that
developed within central Texas were born of the Caddo
while some were born of the Mogollon and Apache of the
Southwest. It is likely that the “ceremonial” mound near
fossil flats is a product of Caddo culture. It is not
known for certain if it is a burial mound, but this is
the most plausible possibility. The most likely
inhabitants of the Fossil Flats area, according to oral
and written history, were the Tonkawa, or “man- eaters”
as they were called by the first settlers of New
Braunfels. This was a tribe who prospered and,
unfortunately, brought to the point of annihilation in
the Historical Period (1500C.E.-Present).
Historical Period (1500 C.E.- Present):
It is unquestionable that this area along the river is
one of mystery and spiritual importance. The following
story is a summary and paraphrase of a portion of the
“Diary of Martin De Alarcon”. Alarcon was the founder of
San Antonio and the first ruler of Spanish Texas.
Alarcon’s diary is located in the Mexican archives and
can be referenced online. This story was also given in
an interview with Rev. Clifton Freudenberg on the
history of Slumber Falls Camp.
In May of 1718 Governor Alarcon, along with his chaplain
and several soldiers, were exploring a region of the
Guadalupe River. Based on the described geography and
oral history, it is believed that the party was looking
for a place to cross the river below what is, today, the
first crossing in very close proximity to the Slumber
Falls property of today. The Guadalupe was high and the
Governor, a devout Catholic, began to pray aloud. Just
before they made the first attempt to cross, about 20
buzzards began to circle overhead. The Governor asked
his chaplain what this meant. The chaplain replied,
“surely they have come to deliver our last rites”. The
Governor and chaplain began to pray to the Blessed
Virgin Mary with rosaries in hand. The Governor sent his
largest horse and soldier first and everyone else
followed forming a chain. Just as the horse stepped on
the shore, he was spooked and fell back into the river.
The entire party was pulled under water, the pants
ripped off of the Governor. According to the diary they
all should have drowned. The party made several
attempts, growing more confident each time. They finally
made it to the other side. Not one man or animal was
injured or killed in the ordeal. It was recorded by the
Governor that, “surely this place on the Guadalupe is
blessed by our God and his Holy Mother”.
About 125 years later Friedrich Wilhelm Carl Ludwig
Georg Alfred Alexander, Prince of Solms, Lord of
Braunfels, Grafenstein, Münzenberg, Wildenfels, and
Sonnenwalde, was seeking a new home in the Texas
Republic. Prince Carl purchased the land from Rafael
Garza and Juan Veramendi in 1845. Juan Veramendi was a
wealthy landowner, owning property from San Antonio to
the springs in San Marcos. It is interesting to note
that Slumber Falls was part of the Veramendi Survey at
the time of purchase by Joseph Landa. So what did the
German immigrants find when 1500 or so of them finally
made it to the Texas Hill Country? Who was going to
assist in protecting them from the Comanche? One
friendly group of Native Americans had a large camp,
numbering at least 500, just north of New Braunfels
along the Guadalupe. According to the interview with
Ruby “Skipper” Isleib and Comal County written history,
an Indian camp such as this was located near the only
known large fossil deposit along this part of the
Guadalupe. You guessed it, Fossil Flats.
Next time you are walking the paths near fossil flats
imagine the following: the howl of a wolf, finding the
tracks of a Grizzly, the distant thunder of Buffalo, and
catching crawfish as big as lobsters in the Guadalupe.
This was the land of the Tonkawa. The word Tonkawa has
been given a few different interpretations. They were
known as “the people who stay together”. They were also
known as the “people of the wolf”. The Tonkawa claimed
to have descended from a mythical wolf. In their
ceremonial areas, again, think Fossil Flats, they would
do a sacred “Wolf Dance”, calling on their ancestors for
guidance. The Tonkawa were divided into clans and
refused to hunt. They would have collected pecans and
wild blackberries along the river. They used Buffalo
hide to cover their tee- pees and anything available to
cover their wickiups (alternate shelter). The Tonkawa
were heavily tattooed, but scantily clothed. The German
immigrants, who had a rough time with the Comanche,
looked to the Tonkawa for assistance. The Tonkawa helped
win the Battle of Plum Creek against the Comanche. But
the one thing that the immigrants could not stomach was
the Tonkawa ritual of eating the enemy dead. They were
known to carry the dead back to camp and cook them. This
may sound disgusting, but it was a central part of their
belief system. They believed that by consuming the
warriors, there was a transference of strength for
future battle. The Tonkawa were not easily persuaded to
let go of their traditions, and this eventually led to
their removal to Reservations, along with the hunger for
land by the new Texans. The Tonkawa would have had a
sacred, spiritual connection to the land of today’s
Slumber Falls. If a Wolf Dance was ever performed on
these grounds, it was their belief that those called
upon spirits would never depart.
When Joseph Landa purchased this land in the 1890’s for
cattle grazing, it was already a popular recreation spot
for the locals. It was in the 1930’s that Joseph’s son
Harry sold 20 acres in the Veramendi Survey (Slumber
Falls) to W.V. and Francis Schulz Lillie, who developed
it into a tourist court appropriately advertised as
“Paradise of the Hills”. Mr. Victor Silvas, the
gardener, maintained the flora of the property.
According to a previous Camp history summary, it was
also during this time that retaining walls were built,
as well as the steps to the river. Eleven or so cottages
were built by Mrs. Lillie and her brother Herman
Schrader. The cottages were much nicer than the rustic
versions of today, with linens, cookware, dishes,
dressers, iceboxes, and hotplates. World War II took a
toll on the lifestyle in the 1940’s, and in 1946, Mrs.
Lillie sold the property to her two nephews and a third
party. As recorded in the previous history, a terrible
drought in 1957 delivered the final blow to the tourist
court. The nephews decided to sell, and it just so
happened that in 1956 the Texas Synod of the Evangelical
and Reformed Church decided that a permanent camp was
needed for Christian education.
Anyone who visits Slumber Falls will depart with a
special place in their heart and mind set aside for
their love and memory of the experience. Slumber Falls
is much more than a 20 acre parcel of land. The land
itself has a unique history and an unexplained presence
of Spirit, which only adds to the experience which
beckons a return time and time again. Happy 50th
Anniversary Slumber Falls Camp; may you keep making
history!
Written and researched by Tracey L.
Morgan, who is interested in any additional known
history (and corrections to any of the history provided)
of the Camp. Please direct questions, corrections, and
additions to: traceylmorgan@gmail.com
A detailed list of references can also be provided upon
request.
The short list:
*Recorded interviews by Reverend Clifton Freudenberg and
Ruby “Skipper” Isleib
*The Diary of Governor Martin De Alarcon- Online/
Mexican Archives
*Online history of Comal County and New Braunfels
*Previous Slumber Falls History summary- author unknown
