Studies clear path for Bastrop’s hotel, hospital and golf course developments

The city of Bastrop, Texas, is moving forward on three planned development concepts, including a full-service hospital, a hotel and convention center and a city-owned par-3 golf course. The news comes after the City Council reviewed feasibility study findings for all three projects at its April 28 meeting, then instructed staff to keep advancing them.  

Each project is currently in the early planning stage, with project financing, ownership and delivery decisions yet to be made.  

According to City Manager Sylvia Carrillo, the council ordered the three feasibility studies in December 2025 to determine whether the projects were financially viable. Officials have framed the efforts as a response to rapid population growth in Bastrop County, along with rising demand for health care, meeting space and recreation.  

The hospital, along with the hotel and convention center, are tied to Bastrop West, which is about 400 acres of mixed-use development near State Highway 71, FM 20 and Hunters Crossing.  

According to officials, Bastrop has no full-service hospital of its own, and rapid population growth has widened the gap in local health care access. A completed Phase 1 study found an approximate 97% gap between local health care demand and the services available. That study drew from an analysis of inpatient bed need, acute care access and patient migration patterns across a 37-ZIP-code service area.  

The council directed Carrillo to work with the Bastrop Economic Development Corp. on a Phase 2 study examining ownership and potential partnership structures. That work would include discussions with the Bastrop West site developer and could lead to a request for proposals (RFP) process to help select a hospital partner. 

As for the hotel and convention center, city officials say Bastrop’s growth has outpaced its meeting and lodging capacity. The feasibility study reviewed by the council recommended a 300-room hotel paired with a 40,000-square-foot convention center, meant to better handle tourism and event demand. 

The study also listed potential supporting amenities on the site, including a 2-acre lagoon or resort-style pool, spa, fitness center, business center, arcade and food and beverage outlets. Development costs were estimated in the report to be between $120 million and $150 million, though no formal project budget has been prepared. The council directed Carrillo to continue working with legal and financial partners to better define financing and delivery structure, which would need to take place before design or construction procurement begins. 

The council’s main focus of discussion, however, was the par-3 golf course proposed for 1500 Farm St. According to officials, the project grew out of the city’s Parks and Recreation master plan, which calls for more family-oriented outdoor activities. 

City officials pitched the estimated 15-acre course as a community gathering place rather than an exclusive amenity. The course architect also described features such as interpretive signs regarding native birds and preserved, unirrigated areas of land. The site would also serve as a stormwater detention pond, which makes it eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds and other state and national park grants, according to officials. 

The feasibility study done on the project estimated a $3.5 million construction cost, plus an additional $2 million for facilities such as a clubhouse and maintenance shed. According to Carrillo, the course could generate at least $800,000 in annual revenue after its second year, which would be enough to cover operational costs but not upfront capital. Because of this, the council directed staff to investigate financial partnerships and grant opportunities, along with scheduling a public hearing on the proposed course for July 28. 

 The council has asked staff to work through the related financing and partnership questions surrounding each project. Those answers will then determine whether any of them move ahead to the design and construction phase. 

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