Camp Swift’s military roots in Bastrop County
In the 1940s, Camp Swift housed over 90,000 troops and 3,500 German prisoners, making it one of the largest military posts in the Lone Star State during World War II. Today, the former Camp Swift has nearly 8,000 residents across 45,000 acres north of Bastrop. While the National Guard retains 11,000 acres for a reserve base and a federal prison, locals enjoy having a low cost of living next to local parks and a lake. “It’s a rural area covered with lots of oak trees,” says Randy McDonald, a Stanberry & Associates Realtor with over 25 years of experience in the market. “You may find an abandoned cement fixture on some of the properties that were built by the military back then.”
Camping and fishing at Lake Bastrop
The 900-acre Lake Bastrop sits on Camp Swift’s south side with sea life such as catfish, sunfish and crappie. Scouting America manages two campgrounds northeast of the lake, with the 540-acre Lost Pines Scout Reservation having a climbing tower and the 150-acre Camp Tom Wooten having a pool open May through September. There are also two parks on the north and south shore of the lake where campers can swim, go paddleboarding or play mini golf. “They have cabins you can rent, they’ve got boat docks and it makes for great bass fishing,” McDonald says. More parks and playgrounds are farther south in Bastrop, and other area activities include golfing, zip-lining and paintball.
Country homes built on wooded acres
Most homes were built between the '50s and '80s after the war ended, although there are some new builds in subdivisions east of the highway. “The former Camp Swift is a huge area,” McDonald says. “There’s a little more space between homes and bigger lot sizes than in the city of Bastrop.” Many homes have long dirt and gravel driveways with wooden and chain link fences, while others have front porches, carports and gated entrances. Country homes with brick and vinyl siding are less than 2,000 square feet and have quarter-acre to 6-acre wooded lots. Prices range between $200,000 and $400,000.
Local taquerias and mini marts
There are a few restaurants west by the highway. Las Cocinas Mexican Restaurant is popular for its fajitas, shrimp cocktails and pina coladas, while Taqueria 95 has birria tacos and mangonadas. There is also a Domino’s Pizza, several convenience stores and three local grocery options between Dollar General, Lakeline Grocery and the Lake Bastrop Mini Mart. Most people will drive to Bastrop for more shopping and entertainment options, including a farmers’ market open year-round and a movie theater with bowling, a bar and grill and an arcade.
An education in Bastrop ISD
Camp Swift is zoned for the Bastrop Independent School District, which serves over 13,000 students across 15 campuses and has a B-minus on Niche. C-rated Lost Pines Elementary School teaches kindergarten through fifth grade, and Riverside Middle School has a Gifted and Talented program and earns a C-plus. Bastrop High School has a 98% graduation rate and earns a B-minus.
Rural transportation with a state highway
Texas State Highway 95 runs along the west side of Camp Swift and provides a direct route to Bastrop 7 miles south. The Capital Area Rural Transportation System provides curb-to-curb services throughout the county, and there are two 24-hour hospitals between the Ally Medical Emergency Room and the Ascension Seton Hospital. The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is over 30 miles west and has flights to over 90 destinations across the globe.
