History of Dullnig Wells in San Antonio, Texas explored.

Dullnig Wells is one of the historic hot springs of San Antonio, Texas which was highly famous during the 20th century. This was also one of San Antonio’s hot sulphur wells. Dullnig Wells was also known as Dullnig’s Wells.

The Dullnig Wells were in existence as gassers before the Civil War of the 1860s and the pioneer days. These prehistoric hot springs preceded anything in Texas. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/588087252/)

The Dullnig Wells were named after George Dullnig as the Dullnig Wells were/was located on the Dullnig Ranch which was owned by George Dullnig. George Dullnig discovered the Dullnig Wells while out on the search and excavation for mineral and oils as well as gas. (Ref: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/george-dullnig)

Dullnig Wells were/was located on located on what was once a 1,000-acre ranch owned by George Dullnig, who immigrated from Austria in 1853. He and his wife had 14 children and dreamed of building a model farm with fruit trees, corn, cattle and horses. After twelve costly attempts to find water, he found only crude oil, natural gas and sulfur water. Finally resigning himself to the production of oil and gas instead of fruit and livestock, his wells produced the first oil in Texas, fifteen years before the Texas oil boom of the famous Spindletop in Beaumont. The natural gas was pumped along a one-inch main into the ranch house, making it the brightest-lit building in South Texas! The bubbling sulfuric water was siphoned into tanks and sold as a "cure-all". (Ref: https://www.ecisd.net/Page/668)

Dullnig's mineral wells were reported by the San Antonio Gazette newspaper to have black sandy loam soil on splendid valley lands for cultivation. The black sandy loam soil was used for mud baths for the wells. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/38699445/)

Dullnig Wells was slimly patronized although the water quality was said to be as good a Terrell Hot Wells and Harlandale Baths. Dullnig Wells only had small bath houses and are not reached by street cars. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/50944191/)

The medicinal waters at Dullnig Wells come from the bowels of the Earth. The air was pure and the scenery was charming. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/san-antonio-daily-light-apr-04-1900-p-8/)

Home to have yourself cured of almost any or all ills that the human system is heir to if you will but visit the great natural sanitarium the Dullnig Wells and drink and bathe in those medicinal waters coming from the bowels of the Earth. The air is pure and bracing the scenery is charming and the very kind and courteous attention.

Tho flow of petroleum at the Dullnig Wells was not only copious but the petroleum itself is of excellent quality and especially for lubrication. There are at least a dozen wells in the county and city where petroleum has been found. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/84405684/)


The Dullnig Wells were in existence as gassers before the Civil War of the 1860s and the pioneer days. These prehistoric hot springs preceded anything in Texas. However the old Dullnig Wells were drilled in 1886. These mineral, oil, and gas wells were the first recorded production in Texas, appearing on reports of 1889. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/386075818/)

From 1889 to and including 1895, the total output of the State, so far as is now known, was but 361 barrels, valued at $1,999, all of which came from the Dullnig wells, near San Antonio. This was lubricating oil and the aver­age price per barrel was a little over $5.53. This price may be contrasted with the prices that maintained shortly after the opening of the Spindle Top field, near Beaumont, Jefferson county, 1901-1902, when oil was sold as low at 18 cents a barrel. (Ref: https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/28697/2013-X-0503-RascoeElder.txt?sequence=3)


In 1890, Fort Worth Daily Gazette had reported the pressure at the Dullnig Wells increases instead of diminishing. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/84405684/)

After George Dullnig died in 1908, his family leased a two-story wooden ranch house nearby and made it into Dullnig Wells Hotel and Bath House, a spa where San Antonians sought cures for rheumatism from its 11 mineral water wells. City dwellers came to the screened cottages for weekend vacations "out in the country".

Herbert Gregory took over the ranch house and operated the Dullnig Wells Hotel and Bathhouse until 1925. The structures were demolished in 1935. The water stopped flowing and Dullnig Wells shut down. The property was sold for housing development in 1940s. (Ref: https://www.edwardsaquifer.net/intro.html)


A dedication of a marker on Loop 13 on the edge of the city, commemorating the nearby old Dullnig wells, drilled in 1886, were held in 1956. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/386075818/)

“A dedication of a marker on Loop 13 on the edge of the city, commemorating the nearby old Dullnig wells, drilled in 1886. These oil and gas wells were the first recorded production in Texas, appearing on reports of 1889.”


The Dullnig Wells were located on Loop 13, San Antonio, Texas, US. 6 miles from City Hall.