Red Rock is a rural retreat from Austin and Bastrop
Over the past 150 years, Red Rock has been a railroad town, an oil drilling site and an agricultural center. Ranching and farming are still prevalent, and the Bastrop County community serves as a pastoral retreat for residents of larger cities like Bastrop, 20 minutes away, and Austin, about an hour. “It’s rural. There are a lot of farms,” says Kimberly Wilson, an associate broker with All City Real Estate who has worked in Central Texas realty for two decades. “It’s for somebody who wants peace and quiet and nature.”
Ranch-style properties, including some working cattle farms
Long unpaved driveways in Red Rock jut off country roads cutting through Texas brush. Homes tend to sit on large plots of land, including some working cattle farms with agricultural exemptions. “My buyer’s property didn’t have an ag exemption, but next door did, so cattle would walk through her property,” Wilson says. Ranch-style homes are most common, ranging from modest midcentury builds to modern luxury properties. Older fixer-uppers sell for $70,000 to $270,000, while move-in-ready homes can sell for $300,000 to $700,000. Newer houses can sell for $1 million to $2.2 million. Plenty of undeveloped land is also available.
Commuting routes to Bastrop and Austin
Red Rock is rural, but its main roads offer straight shots to larger towns and major cities. Bastrop is 15 miles, and the state capital of Austin is 30. “I would think that somebody would commute to Bastrop if they lived there,” Wilson says. Residents generally own cars, though the Capital Area Rural Transportation System provides on-demand rides. Ascension Seton Bastrop, the closest hospital, is about 14 miles away, and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is 25 miles.
Education at Bastrop Independent School District
Most of Red Rock is served by the Bastrop Independent School District, which receives an overall C-plus grade from Niche. New construction has temporarily shifted the boundaries for some schools in the district, but new boundaries will be solidified in the 2026-27 school year. Students are mainly zoned to B-minus-rated Cedar Creek High School, which offers career education programs in subjects including construction, cybersecurity and law enforcement.
Red Rock Steakhouse and Bar, plus the general store
Despite Red Rock’s rural character, the small town center has several local businesses. Red Rock Steakhouse and Bar is a popular destination for ribeye and Tex-Mex, plus live music and karaoke. Across the street, the Red Rock General Store features a variety of agricultural goods, hardware and groceries. Convenience stores and fast-food options can be found in several gas stations, but Wilson says residents often head to Bastrop for more shopping, including an H-E-B and a Walmart.
Dirt bike tracks and disc golf courses within Red Rock
Red Rock lacks public parks, as much of the community’s land is privately held. But the area still has several outdoor attractions. Murphy’s Mx has several motocross and dirt bike tracks, plus campsites. On the east side of Red Rock, Moody’s Disc Golf has two 18-hole courses on a ranch that is still in operation. Families also head to the playgrounds on campus at Red Rock Elementary.
Local events at the Red Rock Community Center
The Red Rock Community Center hosts numerous events in the heart of town. Every fall, the center’s Market Day features vendors from the region, and locals gather for a fish fry every spring. The hall can also be reserved for private events.
