Residents of a small Texas town owned by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX have been told they might lose their right to continue living on and using their own property. The town is called Boca Chica Village, located near the southernmost tip of Texas, and it has been at the center of SpaceX’s space launch activities for several years. But now, many people who live there are feeling uncertain and even fearful about what’s next.
In a letter recently sent out by SpaceX, the company warned that anyone still living in the area may not be allowed to “continue using” their property. The reason for this warning is that the area is being converted into what SpaceX is calling a “private spaceport and resort-style community.” That means the land is going to be used for rockets, launches, and potentially, luxury facilities related to Musk’s vision for the future of space travel.
The letter did not come from a government authority but from SpaceX itself, which has purchased most of the land in Boca Chica over the years. While only a handful of original homeowners remain, many of them have lived there for decades and are upset that they may now have to leave. Some even say they feel bullied or forced out by a company that promised progress but now threatens their peace.
One of the key issues here is that SpaceX owns most of the town and is trying to change its name to “Starbase, Texas.” Musk had tweeted about this plan in 2021, and ever since then, SpaceX has been gradually taking control of the area. People who refused to sell their homes are now facing serious pressure.
According to the letter, residents were told that their continued use of the property is “not guaranteed.” The company cited potential hazards from rocket launches and other spaceport activities as reasons why people may have to vacate. SpaceX says these activities could pose risks, such as loud noise, vibrations, or even more serious accidents, which is why it’s no longer safe for people to live nearby.
This has left homeowners feeling confused and helpless. Many of them had already rejected earlier offers from SpaceX to buy their homes. They wanted to stay in the place they’ve always called home. Now, they feel they are being indirectly forced out by a private company that’s prioritizing space launches over human lives.
Legal experts say this situation is complex. On one hand, if SpaceX owns the land, it does have some authority to decide what it’s used for. But if people own their homes and were never formally told to leave by the government, forcing them out could raise serious legal and ethical questions. In the U.S., it’s rare for a private company to control an entire town like this, which is why the case is drawing national attention.
SpaceX has not publicly responded to questions about the letter or whether they will take legal action against people who refuse to move. However, the tone of the letter has made many feel that their time in Boca Chica is running out. Some fear that the company could try to use zoning laws, safety regulations, or even lawsuits to push them out.
This also brings up bigger questions about the balance between innovation and community rights. Elon Musk has long promoted Boca Chica as the gateway to Mars, with Starship rockets launching from the site. But for the people who live there, this vision of the future feels like it’s coming at the cost of their own homes and way of life.
As of now, no formal evictions have been announced, and residents are still in their homes. But the tension is rising. People are asking if it’s fair for a company to slowly buy up an entire neighborhood and then tell the remaining residents they might have to leave. They worry that if this can happen in Texas, it could happen anywhere.
This is not the first time SpaceX has been accused of being aggressive with property. In the past, there were reports of security guards trying to block access to certain roads or asking homeowners to sign legal documents. Some residents say they’ve been harassed, while others feel completely left in the dark about what’s coming next.
Government agencies at the federal and state level have not commented directly on this specific issue, although the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does regulate rocket launch safety. Any future launch plans will require FAA clearance, but that doesn’t address the residents’ core concern: the right to stay in their homes.
For now, people in Boca Chica are hoping for clarity and fairness. They say they are not against space exploration — in fact, some feel proud to live near where history is being made. But they want to be treated with respect and not pushed out quietly while the world watches rockets fly.
