A regional hospital and a large hotel and convention center are a step closer to Bastrop. City Council has signed a letter supporting state legislation that would help a proposed development called Bastrop West move forward, Community Impact reported on Sept. 30, 2026.
What is proposed?
- A regional hospital. A first-phase feasibility study looked at a 37-ZIP-code service area and found about a 97% gap between local health care demand and what is available nearby, according to the city.
- A 300-room hotel and a 40,000-square-foot convention center on a 33-acre site, as recommended by a separate feasibility study.
Bastrop West sits in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, just outside city limits.
What did City Council support?
The council backed legislation that would let property owners leave Emergency Services District 2 and be served by the city instead, if the city can provide service as good or better and has a lower property tax rate. The city says it meets both tests. Officials said the change would open a path for the hospital and other master-planned development, with property tax relief and city fire protection.
“It is important that we can have a regional hospital that serves so many people,” Mayor Ishmael Harris said.
When would it be built?
No construction date has been announced. The legislation still needs to pass, and the project would go through planning and permitting after that. We will keep following it on the blog.
Why it matters for newcomers
Healthcare is one of the first things people moving to Bastrop ask us about. Today the closest hospital is Ascension Seton Bastrop, a 16-bed hospital on Highway 71, and the larger Austin hospitals are 35 to 45 minutes away. A regional hospital would be a big change. See what else is nearby in our Moving to Bastrop guide.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bastrop getting a new hospital?
- A regional hospital is proposed as part of the Bastrop West development. City Council has supported legislation that would help clear the way, but no construction timeline has been announced.
- How big is the proposed Bastrop convention center?
- A feasibility study recommended a 300-room hotel and a 40,000-square-foot convention center on a 33-acre site.
- Where is Bastrop West?
- Bastrop West is in the City of Bastrop's extraterritorial jurisdiction, just outside city limits.
- What is the closest hospital to Bastrop today?
- Ascension Seton Bastrop, a 16-bed hospital on Highway 71. The larger Austin hospitals are about 35 to 45 minutes away.
Sources
Thinking about moving to Bastrop? Start with our moving guide and neighborhood guide, or send us a question.
