ABBEVILLE — After months of speculation, SpaceX officially announced Tuesday that it is building a Starship launch pad in Vermilion Parish.

State officials from across Louisiana, including Economic Secretary Susan Bourgeois and Gov. Jeff Landry, joined the company at Abbeville’s Magdalen Place to announce the $100 billion investment, which SpaceX says is the largest capital investment project in Louisiana history. 

Construction on Starbase, LA, is expected to begin in 2027, with the first launch planned for as early as 2029.

"We’re preparing to build a spaceport that, until now, has only existed in science fiction," SpaceX Founder and CEO Elon Musk said in a statement. "SpaceX was founded to bring about a future where humans are out exploring amongst the stars, which will only be possible when we make going to space as routine as flying on an airplane."

Musk did not attend the event, but spoke in a prerecorded video detailing the project and the preparations it took to secure the site in Vermilion Parish, including his meetings with Landry and other Louisiana officials.

"Starbase, Louisiana will unlock that future," Landry said in a prewritten statement. "Thank you, Governor Landry and the people of Louisiana for joining us on this journey, and for their help in the years ahead as we work together to build one of the most inspirational places on the planet."

Introducing Starbase, Louisiana – a high-cadence launch site that will enable Starship to open a pathway to the stars for humanity.

Thank you to @LAGovJeffLandry and the great people of Louisiana for all of their support as we work together on this audacious project →… pic.twitter.com/hq308hvg2g

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— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 25, 2026

The Vermilion Parish site will be the sixth launch pad SpaceX has either finished constructing or is in active development.

SpaceX said that the new project will bring in 3,000 direct jobs as well as thousands more indirect employment opportunities. 

"Between 60% and 80% of new hires at our Texas sites are local residents, something we will repeat here in Louisiana," SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said at the announcement. "We need people with all sorts of skills, not just rocket scientists and engineers." 

The project will see the construction of a “high cadence launch site” that SpaceX plans to use to launch its newest Starship. The company sees the ship launching “thousands of times a year, making rocket launches as routine as airplane travel.”

The Pecan Island site will be self-sustaining and will also be home to a propellant production facility, power generation plants, vehicle processing facilities and an airport. SpaceX also plans to offer deep-water shipping capabilities at the site.

As part of the project, SpaceX plans to make a $25 million donation to the Community Foundation of Acadiana. Local taxing bodies like the police jury, sheriff’s office and school board will also benefit from the project, SpaceX claims. The PILOT agreement for the project will provide a $25 million payment in the first year, with payments increasing annually.

Rumors have been swirling about the development of SpaceX's next launch pad near Pecan Island for months, but official channels, until Tuesday, had yet to publicly confirm talks with Musk's company. 

When WBRZ went to Abbeville earlier this week, one resident said they signed an NDA with a SpaceX employee. 

Earlier this month, reports that the dismissal of a coastal damages lawsuit brought by Vermilion Parish and the state of Louisiana against ExxonMobil cleared the way for SpaceX to build its project on nearly 130,000 acres of land previously owned by the oil company.

While residents in the parish say that SpaceX coming to the area will completely change the parish's infrastructure and economy, some residents have expressed concerns that any jobs coming to the area may not go to locals. 

Upgrades to the existing area infrastructure will be covered by SpaceX at no extra cost to the area’s current ratepayers, according to officials. The state transportation department is also evaluating improvements designed to minimize impacts to the traveling public to the greatest extent possible.

Residents have also expressed concerns about the environmental impact of the unprecedented development. 

SpaceX representatives said they have worked with state agencies, including the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, to “address potential impacts to wildlife, fisheries and their supporting habitats.”

Any unavoidable impacts on local wetlands must be fully mitigated by the company, according to a fact sheet distributed at the announcement event. 

The planned project also sparked concern about Louisiana’s already dwindling coastline.

While SpaceX officials say current plans for the project are not anticipated to impact active coastal restoration projects, staff have sought guidance from Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority on how to restore habitat and address coastal erosion in the area.

Shotwell said that the company plans to hold local town halls and participate in community events to become a more active part of the community before construction on the project begins next year.

"We're very motivated to listen," she said. "We want to make this a great project, not just for SpaceX but for Louisiana as well, and we're really excited for work on that with you and build that future together." 

WATCH THE ANNOUNCEMENT: