GREETINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Welcome to Bastrop, Texas, the Heart of the Lost Pines and so much more!

The city of Bastrop was founded by Stephen F. Austin in 1832, and incorporated in 1837. Voted “The Most Historic Small Town in Texas”, the city now boasts more than 8,000 residents and is the commercial hub for miles around. Many people come here to get away from the commotion and congestion of the big cities, while others are seeking economic opportunities.

Bastrop is booming! Close proximity to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport only 22 miles to the west and the 420-acre Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa draw both business executives and tourists alike. Additionally, three new hotels have recently been built to help accommodate the thousands who visit Bastrop each year, a number which will undoubtedly increase significantly with the opening of the Bastrop Convention and Expo Center in early 2011.

Several new retail sites are being developed along Highway 71 in Bastrop. Burleson Crossing, a 600,000 square foot retail center, offers Lowe’s, Best Buy, PETCO, Carl’s Jr., and Spec’s Liquors. CVS Pharmacy is nearing completion to the east, and we are eagerly awaiting the announcement of additional well-known retailers.

The Bastrop Independent School District is also expanding; the state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center and a new athletic complex are already open, and the Cedar Creek High School is scheduled to begin classes in the fall of 2010.

Bastrop possesses a superb quality of life with beautiful historic homes, several scenic golf courses and the peaceful Colorado River running through its downtown, perfect for kayaking and canoeing. Beyond the historic district, there are established neighborhoods and new residential subdivisions in progress, including a 10,000-acre master planned community. Loblolly pines known as “The Lost Pines” plus cedar and oak trees fill the nearby 3,500-acre Bastrop State Park, while bass are plentiful at Lake Bastrop.

Come for a visit and you’ll want to stay a lifetime!

Joe D. Newman, President
Bastrop Economic Development Corp.