Texas Romantic Getaway: Bastrop
Recommended for: shopping, piney woods

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According to Native American legend, the Lost Pines of Bastrop were a gift from an brave to his new bride, homesick for East Texas. Scientists provide a less romantic explanation: The coniferous trees were left in central Texas when a shallow sea receded 80 million years ago. A prehistoric forest thrived across much of the state, but when conditions changed only an island of loblolly pines remained.

Regardless of the explanation, one thing’s for certain--the Lost Pines are far from lost. This forest enclave southeast of Austin is found by over 600,000 guests annually. Today Bastrop State Park (TX 21, 1-1/2 miles east of town, 512-321-2101; www.tpwd.state.tx.us, admission fee) is one of the most visited parks in the Lone Star State. Some of the most popular features of the park are the cabins, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s. Two work companies came to the newly created park to plant pine seedlings and to construct buildings using native red sandstone. Paid about a dollar a day, these skilled craftsmen left a legacy of rustic-style cabins furnished with hand-crafted tables and carved fireplace mantels.

Bastrop State Park also boasts a 365,000-gallon swimming pool and a golf course that’s consistently cited as one of the top two public courses in the state.

For all its man-made attractions, this park is even richer in natural treasures. Fishermen enjoy a 10-acre lake stocked with bass and catfish. Birdwatchers seek out pine siskins, pileated woodpeckers, and painted buntings. Hikers walk a quiet eight-and-a-half-mile trail, the sounds of campers and picnickers dampened by a carpet of pine needles.

Bastrop State Park neighbors Buescher (pronounced “Bisher”) State Park (FM 153, 512-237-2241; www.tpwd.state.tx.us), but the two boast different environments. The number of pine trees diminishes as you head east on Park Road 1, when oaks begin to dominate the landscape.

Because of the popularity of these parks, two other state parks are now under construction nearby. Located on the north and south shores of Lake Bastrop, these new facilities will bring attendance in this area to 1-1/2 million annually. The south shore park will be completed first, scheduled to open as a state park in the summer of 1995.

But the popularity of these parks has not infringed on the small town atmosphere of Bastrop. With a population of just 4,000 within the city limits and 20,000 in the community, this historic town holds onto its small town roots.

Bastrop dates back to 1829, the first in Stephen F. Austin’s “little colony,” located where the Camino Real crossed the Colorado River. It was named after the Baron of Bastrop, a friend of Austin’s. The town grew, but sadly most of its early structures were lost in a massive fire in 1862. The downtown was rebuilt with Victorian structures, and today 130 of those historic buildings remain, including 31 Texas Medallion homes.

Stop by the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce (927 Main St., 512-321-2419) for a copy of “A Walking Tour of Historic Bastrop.” The tour takes you past the 1883 Courthouse, the Old Colorado River Bridge, and many downtown businesses and homes. If you’re not in the mood for walking, make it a cycling tour: The Chamber rents bicycles so you can pedal through these quiet neighborhoods.

One notable downtown building is the Bastrop Opera House (711 Spring St., 512-321-6286; www.bastropoperahouse.com), built in 1889. After a major renovation in 1978, this building is once again the cultural center of town, with live theater ranging from mysteries to vaudeville.
Whether you explore Bastrop by foot, pedal, or horse power, you’ll find that this town in the pines is an ideal getaway.

Short and Sweet

Getting There:
Bastrop is located southeast of Austin on TX 71.

Love Nests:
Bastrop has accommodations both for those looking for a rustic hideaway or a Victorian plushness.
We stayed at the Bastrop State Park cabins, structures that are some of the most sought-after accommodations in Texas. Constructed by CCC workers, the cabins each provide all the comforts of home, from linens to kitchenettes, plus many offer fireplaces as well. Our cabin (we fondly refer to it as “our cabin” whenever we drive through the park) featured a stone fireplace with a hand-carved mantel, two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living area, and an outdoor patio with a picnic table overlooking the lake. For cabin reservations, call (512) 389-8900.

For More Information:
Contact the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce (512-321-2419; www.bastropchamber.com) for brochures on lodging, shopping, or historic attractions. For reservations at Bastrop State Park, call (512) 389-8900.