Long before K5 Storage became a place for boats, RVs, and prized vehicles, it was a family idea rooted in New Braunfels soil.
For Mary and David Kraft, the story starts with place. David was born and raised here, and Mary grew up here, too. His family has worked the land since 1895. That legacy shaped the way they thought about the future.
The idea didn’t begin with a polished business plan or corporate boardroom pitch. It started as a sketch on a napkin, dreamed up on the front porch, and around the kitchen table.
David said the idea started with something simple: noticing how often storage facilities were full. “We would see them, and they were always full,” he said. That observation turned into curiosity, then into conversations. One of the first was their contractor, Steve, with Texas Landcrafters. “I don’t think you can go wrong,” he told David. Demand was not the question. The challenge was building something better than the average storage yard.
They set out to create a facility that feels easy to navigate from the moment you arrive. That vision became a design priority, with wide drive aisles and intentional spacing throughout the property so trailers and boats can move comfortably and stress-free.
The surface matters too. The property is 100 percent asphalt, which keeps dust and mud from following people home or coating expensive equipment after rain. It protects what people store and helps the property feel clean from the moment someone pulls in.
That clean, orderly look was intentional. Mary talked about wanting the place to feel cared for, not improvised. “I want everything in its place,” she said. “Clean, you know? That matters to me.” Even small details like fencing, layout, and landscaping reflect that mindset.
K5 Storage also reflects how Mary and David work together. David describes himself as more reserved. Mary, in her own words, is the one who says, “Let’s go.” He focuses on structure and long-term planning. She focuses on people and daily operations. Together, they built something that is as relational as it is functional.
That relationship-first approach is part of what sets K5 Storage apart. They do not offer full online booking. Instead, Mary said they prefer a phone conversation or an in-person visit. “I want to have that relationship,” she said. “I want to know who it is when the phone rings.” Once people visit the property, many choose to stay.
The business is also family-run in the most literal sense. Their children are involved in day-to-day upkeep, from blowing out units to mowing, cleaning, and maintaining the property. “That is what family-owned and operated really means,” she said. “Everyone is part of it.”
That presence matters to tenants. People notice when the owners are on site and when questions are answered quickly by someone who knows the property. “It feels like a family,” Mary said simply.
Security is part of that trust. The property is gated, monitored, and designed to keep equipment safe. For David, it is ultimately about peace of mind.
The facility has also grown in ways they did not initially expect. A U-Haul partnership came to them, bringing additional traffic and visibility. “That was not something we planned,” Mary said. “But it has worked out really well.”
Even that part of the business has taken on a local feel. “People notice when things are taken care of,” she said. “That carries through everything.”
Growth, however, has been intentional rather than rapid. K5 Storage is nearly full, but expansion is being approached carefully. They started with three buildings so they could understand demand before building more.
“We wanted to see what people actually needed,” David said. “Not just what we thought would work.”
Even now, plans for phase two are being sketched out the same way the original project began. On paper. On ideas. On that same front porch and kitchen table.
“This is something we built with our family, on land that has been in our family since 1895,” David said. “We wanted it to work, but we also wanted it to feel right.”
That attention to detail shapes the experience tenants have every day. Mary knows many of them by name and often recognizes vehicles as they come through the gate.
That personal connection is a big part of what K5 Storage has become. It is not just a place to park or store equipment. It is somewhere people trust.
“People have a lot invested in what they store here,” David said. “If you care about it, you want it somewhere you do not have to worry about it.”
“We want to be the place people feel good about,” Mary added. “That is the difference.”
Even as the possibility of expansion grows, the focus remains steady. “We are content with doing it right,” Mary said. “We are not trying to overbuild just to say we did.”
And yet what they have built already serves a clear purpose. It is where a boat gets cleaned after a day on the water, where an RV gets plugged in before a long trip, and where people reset between adventures.
“We just wanted to build something that made sense for our life and for this community,” Mary said. “And that is what it turned into.”
What Makes K5 Storage Different
At K5 Storage, convenience is built into the experience. The property offers wide drive aisles, 100 percent asphalt, gated access, and 24-hour video surveillance, but the extras are what make it especially useful for boaters, RV owners, and travelers.
Full hookups are available on the back side of the building, including 30- and 50-amp power and water, allowing customers to plug in before a trip or after returning home. There is also bagged ice on site, a small but popular amenity for lake days and early departures. Customers can quickly stock coolers without making an extra stop.
A clean public restroom adds another layer of convenience, especially for those prepping campers or returning from the water. The property also includes a wash area where boats and RVs can be rinsed off before heading home, helping owners keep equipment in top condition.
Mary said the goal is simple. “We want it to be clean, organized, and easy,” she said. The result is a storage facility that functions like a launch point and landing pad for the next adventure, not just a parking space.
We wanted something that would work for our family, serve the community, and feel right for the land.