The Rock Haus Foundation
Capital Campaign
The Rock Haus Foundation will be the beacon that fosters acceptance and inclusion of all individuals by promoting and providing fulfilling and enriching opportunities.
As a local non-profit foundation, the Rock Haus has been responding to the community’s need to serve our individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). In February of 2023, the Rock Haus was deeded 5.2 acres of property located at 511 E. North St. in New Braunfels. This provided us the opportunity to develop a master building plan designed to meet both the current and future needs of our community. This plan is our vision for the future. The North St. property will become a campus designed to meet the needs of individuals with IDD and their families for generations to come.
Phase 1
Phase I of the master plan involves the renovation of the old wooden building on the deeded property. The building, referred to as the “Gateway” Building, will house students aged 18-22 from the NBISD Transition Program.
This program provides students with special needs an opportunity to focus on life after high school. This includes employment training, community volunteer opportunities, recreation and leisure activities, self-help skills, and coordinating with parents/caregivers to prepare for life after school.
Phase 2
Phase II of the master plan includes the proposed construction of three new buildings on the campus and renovation of the existing Rock Haus building.
Building One is designed to be a multi-purpose facility. This building will include a gym for games, exercise, and social interaction, a stage for concerts, plays, presentations, a kitchen for meal prep and training for food service jobs, and bleachers for people attending events. The facility will also be used for educational workshops, conferences, and other community-wide events.
Building Two is designed to house an Individualized Skills and Socialization (ISS) program. (ISS has replaced the term “Day Hab”.) The ISS program is a person-centered approach that emphasizes community integration and inclusion. The program generally runs M-F, 9:00 am-3:00 pm. This building will be occupied by an area Service Provider for both on-site and off-site activities that prioritize the health and well-being of individuals and their families.
Building Three is designed to provide office space for area organizations that offer services to the community’s IDD population. We see this as an opportunity to give area families and caregivers the comprehensive and coordinated services they need for their loved ones. The key to connecting families with these services will be through navigators/case managers whose offices are located on our campus to allow for ease of communication and travel for families.
The Rock Haus Renovation
Built in 1934, with its amazing history, the Rock Haus will remain at the heart of the campus. It will be home to our foundation’s offices, navigators/case managers (meeting with parents/caregivers), and a retail business/coffee shop staffed by individuals with special needs! The current renovation plans include a new roof, windows, and upgrades to the interior and exterior appearance. The facility has been designed to be a beacon for our entire community.
This vision has been developed from considerable input from our area parents and caregivers, service providers, individuals with IDD, local ISDs, and the McKenna Foundation.
It is in no way a final blueprint, but an initial vision put on paper. The future of the project is in the hands of our community and we, the Rock Haus Foundation, intend to be responsive to the information and opinions presented to us.
