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- calendar_today November 13, 2026
SpaceX Confirms Interest in Parkland Near Starbase Facility
SpaceX has confirmed that it has held discussions to purchase approximately 1,200 acres of public parkland near its South Texas Starbase rocket facility. The company stated on Friday that it intends to preserve around half of this land as coastal habitat and emphasized that it has no plans to buy Boca Chica Beach.
No Purchase of Boca Chica Beach Planned
The clarification from SpaceX follows media reports which suggested Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) might cede control of Boca Chica State Park to the aerospace company. Both SpaceX and Starbase city officials have issued statements denying that the beach is part of any current land transaction. According to Starbase City Administrator Cayetana Polanco, the proposed deal only concerns land surrounding the launch facility and not the beach itself. "First, to be absolutely clear, nobody is buying or selling Boca Chica Beach," Polanco said.
Details of Potential Land Sale
Earlier, a draft agenda for a Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting noted the possible "disposition" of 1,300 acres of parkland in Cameron County, widely believed to reference Boca Chica State Park—one of the largest state-owned tracts in the area. However, this item was dropped from the finalized agenda, and it remains unclear whether the parkland sale or transfer will be considered in the future.
Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa criticized the possible sale and requested that no action be taken on the matter during her transition period. The TPWD has not commented publicly and is currently trying to block the release of the draft agenda. SpaceX reported that individuals have entered TPWD-managed land, sometimes into sensitive dune areas, emphasizing safety and environmental concerns. The company promises to preserve 600 acres as coastal habitat and continues ongoing beach cleanup and conservation efforts with Starbase, including removing over 50 tons of trash weekly and supporting sea turtle rescue.
Details on New Data Center Project
SpaceX has also recently released information regarding its plans for a $24 billion data center near the Port of Brownsville. The facility, which includes a gas-fired power plant and a supercomputing campus, will support applications such as medical research, emergency response, advanced manufacturing, and national security. The company also intends to use the facility for developing and testing space-based computing technologies.
Construction is underway, with SpaceX stating that more than 3,000 construction jobs have already been created, and over 500 permanent jobs are expected once operational. SpaceX is seeking tax abatements from Starbase and Cameron County, with negotiations ongoing. As part of a related agreement with Brownsville, SpaceX has committed $220 million to water and wastewater projects after requesting the de-annexation of the land intended for the data center.
Increasing Activity and Environmental Efforts at Starbase
SpaceX is proposing an increase in the frequency of rocket launches and landings at its Starbase location, moving from 25 per year to potentially 100, and ultimately up to 456. The Federal Aviation Administration is currently reviewing this request. Alongside expansion, SpaceX and the city of Starbase have cited ongoing efforts in beach restoration, erosion prevention, and wildlife conservation, working with the Texas General Land Office and supporting local environmental initiatives.
Public Statements from Starbase Officials
City officials in Starbase—where the majority of residents are SpaceX employees—noted their commitment to environmental and community efforts. Polanco stated that the people of Starbase have led efforts in beach restoration, community events, and sea turtle conservation. She expressed willingness to collaborate with Governor-elect Hinojosa to accelerate rehabilitation projects in the area.
Related coverage
Source: feeds.texastribune.org.
