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Musk’s businesses now border three sides of my homestead west of the Bastrop city limits.
In our neighborhood, SpaceX has built a 1-million- square-foot factory. The Boring Company has drilled two tunnels and constructed a boring machine manufacturing facility. X, formerly Twitter, has officially moved its headquarters nearby—and a few weeks ago, Gov. Greg Abbott announced $17 million in grants to further expand SpaceX here.
Watching this transformation unfold from our kitchen window has been both fascinating and, at times, overwhelming. Two things have helped me process the relentless change happening to the cow pastures beyond our property line.
The first is a genuine curiosity about how the world works. Seeing an industrial complex built from scratch has given me a crash course in everything from hazardous waste regulations to worker safety laws. My new hobby has become untangling how elected officials, government regulations and local communities influence—and are influenced by—corporate development.
But more than anything, I’ve found hope in Bastrop’s response. Our town has welcomed new employees, neighbors and families brought here by this wave of investment. There is optimism about the economic growth, but also a thoughtful, measured concern about the community and environmental impact of unchecked development. Bastrop is embracing progress while refusing to be steamrolled by it.
What sets Bastrop apart is its willingness to have nuanced, pragmatic conversations. We’ve seen both the benefits and the risks of large-scale corporate development. We don’t care who the CEO is or their political donations. What matters is whether a business is committed to the long-term well-being of Bastrop—its people, its infrastructure and its nature.
I’m especially proud of the political diversity of those stepping up to address local issues. I regularly meet with a group that includes Republicans, Democrats and independents. Instead of polarizing debates, we focus on shared concerns and common- sense solutions.
One issue we’re rallying around right now is improving discharges into the Colorado River. Through MyBastropRiver. com, we’re supporting a nonprofit that’s tackling the legal and environmental complexities. On April 17, we’re hosting a benefit concert at Neighbor’s Kitchen & Yard in Bastrop to raise funds for their efforts to improve wastewater and mining impacts on the river.
Bastrop is changing, and it’s not easy, but seeing my community navigate this transformation with intelligence, pragmatism and cooperation makes me more hopeful than ever.
We may not have chosen to be at the center of this new chapter in Texas industry, but we are meeting it on our own terms—and I couldn’t be prouder.
Chap Ambrose is a resident of Bastrop, and an advocate for community- driven development.
