A Once Sleepy Bedroom Community Is Now Considered the Town That Elon Musk Built

Move over Austin, the tech titan is transforming Bastrop, ‘the most historic small town in Texas,’ into a Hill Country hotspot.

Perry Chiaramonte/The New York Sun
Mom-and pop storefronts — along with a supportive Chamber of Commerce, dot the streets of the growing Austin suburb of Bastrop, Texas. Perry Chiaramonte/The New York Sun

BASTROP, Texas Rolling eastbound on Highway 71 surrounded by live oak, pecan, and Texas pistache trees, it’s hard to imagine the barren plains of oil-rich Midland, Texas, 350 miles away, recently catapulted into the spotlight thanks to Taylor Sheridan’s new streaming hit, “Landman.”

The lush greenery lining the five-lane highway southeast of Austin greets travelers entering the Bastrop County seat. Typical in America, the outskirts of Bastrop city feature a Home Depot and Lowe’s Improvement competing for directional traffic. Best Western and Hampton Inn welcome budget travelers. A WalMart Supercenter sits at a convenient intersection at the 150 Loop heading into the town’s main thoroughfare.

Enter your email to read this article.

Get 2 free articles when you subscribe.

or
Have an account? This is also a sign-in form.
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Advertisement
The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use