Real Estate Photographer in Bastrop, TX

Bastrop has long leaned into its small-town charm — now, it’s being recognized for it.

HGTV recently named Bastrop on its list of the “40 Most Charming Small Downtowns in America,” making it the only Texas city to land a spot.

When crafting the list, HGTV said it looked for “vibrant towns that invite you in and encourage you to stay and explore.”

Where is Bastrop, Texas?

Just 33 miles southeast of Austin and situated on the banks of the Colorado River, Bastrop has a population of just about 13,000. The town has grown significantly since social media platform X moved its headquarters there in 2024.

In its description, HGTV highlighted Bastrop’s status as one of 81 “Texas Main Street” cities recognized by the Texas Historical Commission for its historic downtown revitalization efforts.

The “most historic small town in Texas” was first established in 1832 with just a courthouse, hotel, stockade and general store, according to the town’s tourism website. It’s home to hundreds of sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“Today, this charming Texas town exudes history, as evidenced by the hundreds of sites, buildings and structures that have been named to the National Register of Historic Places,” HGTV wrote. “Plan a half-day or more to explore the historic downtown and the burgeoning arts and music scene.”

Its charming downtown is home to many restaurants, shops and activities, and for the past six years, Bastrop has hosted a four-day music festival showcasing local talent. Although the Bastrop Music Festival won’t happen this year, there are still other things to see and do in the area. Its monthly events calendar highlights local art shows and themed festivals, while Bastrop State Park offers camping, hiking, swimming and more all year round.

HGTV's 40 most charming small downtowns in America

Living in a small town has its perks. From close-knit communities to farmers markets and historic architecture, there's nothing quite like that good ol' small town charm and now one Central Texas town is being recognized for having just that.

Bastrop, a city about 33 miles east of Austin, was named among HGTV's "40 Most Charming Small Downtowns in America." The growing town, more recently known for its film studio plans and Elon Musk ties, was the only Texas city to make the network's list.

To compile the top 40 list, HGTV said it "looked for vibrant towns that invite you in and encourage you to stay and explore." Bastrop stood out not just for its current offerings, but also for being "the most historic small town in Texas."

Nestled along the banks of the Colorado River, Bastrop was established in 1832 with originally just a courthouse, hotel, stockade and general store, according to the city's tourism website. Over the years, this tiny town grew to become "a farming and timber powerhouse in the mid-nineteenth century," traces of which are still prevalent in the city's present day culture.

The network added that Bastrop is also one of 90 Texas Main Street cities recognized by the Texas Historical Commission for efforts to revitalize historic downtown districts.

"Today, this charming Texas town exudes history, as evidenced by the hundreds of sites, buildings and structures that have been named to the National Register of Historic Places," HGTV wrote. "Plan a half-day or more to explore the historic downtown and the burgeoning arts and music scene."

In addition to its historic downtown filled with local shops and restaurants, some of Bastrop's most popular tourist attractions include the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and the Texas gas station used in the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) movie. More recently, Bastrop held its sixth annual live music festival in September 2024, to showcase the city's growing live music scene and community.

Although the Bastrop Music Festival is not being planned this year, the city still offers live music and other festivals including its medieval-themed Sherwood Forest Faire every spring and Bastrop Art Fest in November, according to its monthly events calendar. There are also dozens of outdoor activities in the city especially at Bastrop State Park, home to the famous loblolly "Lost Pines" trees and 6,000 acres for camping, swimming, golfing, wildlife viewing, hiking and more.

Would you add Bastrop to your travel bucket list?

BASTROP, Texas — Elon Musk’s SpaceX facility in Bastrop is set to expand 1 million square feet over the next three years thanks to a $17.3 million grant from the state. According to Gov. Greg Abbott’s office, this will create more than 400 jobs.

What You Need To Know

The expansion of the facility is getting mixed reviews from the city’s residents. Some have expressed concern, while others see this as progress.

Judah Ross moved to the small city of Bastrop, 30 miles southeast of Austin, because of the nature and its people.

“We had a small family and were looking to settle down and just thought of Bastrop as a perfect place to really plant our home and grow our family,” Ross said.

Since moving here five years ago, Bastrop’s population has increased by more than 30%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

“One constant new complaint you'll hear from everyone is how crowded the H-E-B is,” Ross said.

The growth is in large part due to Musk’s companies, like SpaceX, Starlink and The Boring Company, making Bastrop County a home where their facilities are located.

“I think it's been a big pro and the most important thing that companies like SpaceX provide are really good paying jobs,” Ross said.

An $8 million expansion to the SpaceX facility will begin on Sept. 24. By the time this project is complete in January of next year, the facility will have expanded by 80,000 square feet.

“I think it's a good thing overall,” Ross said.

Ross isn’t the only resident who thinks that.

“I absolutely think it's a positive,” said Eric Jones, who has been living in Bastrop for three years. “The opportunities that are popping up now for the students, specifically coming out of high school.”

“A door open for opportunity for almost anybody that wants to come here, not only to work, but I feel like these big retail stores have an opportunity to come and introduce their product,” said Martin Gonzales, who has been living in Bastrop for over 20 years.

Chris Lott has been in Bastrop since he was a teenager, when the population was around 1,000.

“Things have rapidly changed over the years,” Lott said. “It feels like not even the same place sometimes.”

He has some reservations with the presence of Musk’s companies in Bastrop.

“It's kind of, I think intimidating, and so, I think the developers, and those that are coming in, SpaceX, just got to really realize that they need to be joined to the community,” Lott said. “They need to be partners in the community.”

Gonzales, who is also Lott’s colleague at the nonprofit Bastrop County Cares, also hopes for collaboration.

“I hope one day we are able to sit with whoever needs to listen and we can talk about it,” Gonzales said. “That would be a great asset to our nonprofit organizations and to our community, the people that live here.”

Residents are hoping to keep a sense of community as Texas continues to grow its economy and population.

SpaceX is set to expand its presence in Central Texas with an $8 million project to enlarge its Bastrop facility, as per state filings.

The 80,000-square-foot addition, which is scheduled to begin construction on September 24 and wrap in early January 2026, was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and initially reported by My San Antonio.

New investment

Bastrop is already the site of several Elon Musk-led ventures. The upcoming expansion will extend SpaceX’s office at 858 FM 1209, near Starlink’s operations and The Boring Company’s facilities. Just down the road, X is housed in the Hyperloop Plaza at 865 FM 1209.

SpaceX’s expansion reflects a steady buildup of resources in Bastrop since the private space firm established its presence in the area. The addition was praised by Tesla Governor Greg Abbott, who wrote on X that the expansion will “bring more jobs, innovations and will strengthen Starlink’s impact worldwide.”

State support

In March, Gov. Greg Abbott announced a $17.3 million state grant to SpaceX for an “expansion of their semiconductor research and development (R&D) and advanced packaging facility in Bastrop.” The project is expected to create more than 400 new jobs and generate over $280 million in capital investment.

Following the grant award, the Texas Governor also noted that SpaceX’s facility would be growing by 1 million square feet across three years to boost its Starlink program. SpaceX’s Starlink division is among the company’s fastest-growing segments, with the satellite internet system connecting over 6 million users and counting worldwide.

Recent reports have also indicated that Starlink has struck a deal with EchoStar to acquire 50 MHz of exclusive S-band spectrum in the United States and global Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) licenses. This should pave the way for Starlink to provide 5G coverage worldwide, even in remote areas.

It's been a year since one of the world's richest men and a prominent technology leader, Elon Musk, relocated social media platform X's headquarters from San Francisco to Bastrop. The Central Texas community, roughly 33 miles east of Austin, has served as one of Musk's prominent epicenters of growth and innovation, with company headquarters or satellite locations on hand for SpaceX, Starlink and the Boring Company.

X, now located at 865 FM 1209, Building 2, Bastrop, TX 78602, is yet another technology company to choose the Lone Star State over California, and Musk's mini Bastrop tech hub is mere miles away from his Tesla headquarters in Austin. At the city level, both Starlink and the Boring Company are listed as Bastrop's largest private employers, the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation shared, joined by the likes of the MD Anderson Cancer Center, H-E-B and Buc-ee's on the private front and Bastrop Independent School District and Bastrop County on the public end of things.

"Elon Musk’s companies have put Bastrop County on the global map. Their presence has accelerated investment, spurred innovation, and inspired a new generation of talent," said Dori Kelley, business attraction, retention and expansion (BARE) manager for the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation. "It’s been nearly a year since X designated Bastrop as its headquarters, placing our community in the technology industry, which we’ve never been known for before. We’re proud to be part of the story — and excited about what’s next with X and beyond."

Growth is the name of the game for the Capital City suburb, with the Bastrop EDC outlining several major projects coming down the pipeline to service a growing population and workforce. Currently, 2024 population estimates revealed Bastrop is home to an approximate 11,005 people; by 2029, that figure is anticipated to grow over 24%, up to 13,685 residents.

What developments are coming down the pipeline in Bastrop?

On Musk's developmental front, SpaceX (which owns Starlink) is in the process of adding more than 1 million square feet to its Bastrop facility, an investment surpassing $280 million that is poised to create approximately 400 jobs. That revitalization comes after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in March announced a $17.3 million grant awarded to SpaceX to expand its "semiconductor research and development (R&D) and advanced packaging facility" in Bastrop.

In tandem with that effort, SpaceX registered a project filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in late August, which outlined an $8 million, 80,000-square-foot expansion to SpaceX, located at 858 FM 1209, Bastrop, TX 78602. That work is set to begin in late September and wrap in early January 2026, according to preliminary documents.

Beyond Musk, the Line 204 Texas studio lot is a 546-acre project situated along the Colorado River, with plans to begin construction this month. However that project was announced prior to X's move to Bastrop. Also on the entertainment front, Hollywood actor Zachary Levi is in the process of developing a 75-acre master-planned community that will feature film studios, a hotel, restaurants and amphitheaters, with initial portions of the project earmarked to open in 2027.

In line with Bastrop's burgeoning tech scene, a $1.4 billion data center is on the cusp of beginning construction at the corner of FM 535 and Wolf Lane in Cedar Creek, with the first building — out of four total on campus — anticipated to wrap work in June 2026.

A four-story hotel, courtyard by Marriott, is expected to finish construction in late 2026, located at 1631 State Highway 71. That hospitality space joins other local and national brands calling the city home, with grocers and restaurants underway including an H-E-B expansion, the construction of a Sprouts Farmers Market, a Smokey Mo's BBQ joint, Chuy's Tex-Mex location and LongHorn Steakhouse.