Today, Explained: Elon's Company Town

Episode: "Elon's Company Town"
Release Date: January 2, 2025
Hosts: Noel King and Ronnie Mola
Network: Vox Media Podcast Network

Introduction

In this episode of Today, Explained, hosts Noel King and Ronnie Mola delve into Elon Musk's ambitious project to create a company town named Snailbrook, situated outside of Austin, Texas. Musk envisions Snailbrook as a "utopian" living and working space for employees of his various enterprises, including The Boring Company and X. However, the reality on the ground presents a stark contrast to this lofty vision.

Elon Musk's Vision for Snailbrook

The episode opens with Noel King describing the elusive nature of Snailbrook:

Noel King [00:01]: "If you open your maps app and you type in Snailbrook, Texas, you will get nothing but a prompt. Snailbrook is not a town just yet. It is currently under construction outside of Austin. The builder, Elon Musk, says Snailbrook will be a company town for employees of his Boring Company and X and etc. He has plans for it to be, quote, utopian."

Musk's plan encompasses not just housing but a complete ecosystem designed to support his workforce, integrating living spaces with work facilities to foster a seamless work-life balance.

On-the-Ground Report: Snailbrook's Current State

Ronnie Mola provides a firsthand account of Snailbrook’s progress, highlighting the discrepancies between Musk’s utopian aspirations and the present reality:

Ronnie Mola [00:31]: "Which, I mean, it's got a long way to go, it's got a lot of rough edges and it's definitely nothing that you would call like a utopia. So far it's just 15 trailers."

Mola further elaborates on his visit:

Ronnie Mola [02:12]: "So Elon Musk, you know, leader of like six businesses, has been steadily moving those businesses to Texas over the past few years."

Despite Musk’s investment, Snailbrook currently comprises mainly 15 trailers, a gym, a pool, and rudimentary communal areas like the Hyperloop Plaza, which houses a small bodega and other basic amenities. Mola notes the lack of permanence and quality in the infrastructure:

Ronnie Mola [04:39]: "I described it as sort of a tiny Whole Foods. You could get drinks with Adaptogens or the olive oil that everyone uses on Instagram."

The limited development has resulted in a town that feels more transient than the envisioned community, with facilities often in disrepair and amenities scarcely utilized.

Historical Context: Company Towns in America

To provide perspective, the episode introduces Price Fishback, a Regents and APS Professor of Economics at the University of Arizona, specializing in company towns. Fishback offers a historical overview:

Price Fishback [15:21]: "I wrote a dissertation and a bunch of articles about company towns and company housing and violent strikes and all sorts of things like that."

He explains the original purpose behind company towns:

Price Fishback [15:38]: "One of the major reasons they had [company towns] is isolation. You're just out in the middle of nowhere, and if you need housing, you build it and bring workers there."

Fishback recounts both the successes and failures of historical company towns, emphasizing that while some thrived under benevolent employers, others became sites of severe labor strife, such as the Ludlow Massacre of 1913-1914.

Expert Insights: Analyzing Snailbrook's Prospects

Fishback assesses Snailbrook’s potential by comparing it to historical precedents:

Price Fishback [22:34]: "I think that’s a feature of it. It’s not how every place developed, but it’s certainly how isolated places developed."

He contends that Musk's resources could transform Snailbrook into a thriving community, provided he moves beyond temporary solutions like trailers and invests in permanent, quality housing and infrastructure.

However, Fishback also points out the significant challenges:

Price Fishback [10:06]: "Regulations. Everyone told me that the regulations in Bastrop County are pretty lax. So, you know, he moved there because the regulations were less tough and stringent than they were in California. But even though they're lax in Bastrop County, they've still run up against them."

The interplay between Musk’s ambitious projects and local regulations poses hurdles that could impact the development timeline and overall success of Snailbrook.

Future Prospects: Can Snailbrook Thrive?

The discussion turns to whether Snailbrook can evolve into a successful company town:

Noel King [09:42]: "So these days, in this economy, one can own and run a company and not build a town for the company. It's pretty common. Does building a town for Boring and Tesla and X, does building a town like Snailbrook figure into Elon Musk's business goals?"

Fishback responds by highlighting Musk’s motivation to attract and retain top talent by offering affordable housing and community amenities:

Price Fishback [10:06]: "One of the reasons why he's building this town, I believe, is because he wants to be able to attract and retain good workers."

Despite the current shortcomings, there remains potential for Snailbrook to develop into a vibrant community as Musk’s companies expand and the town attracts more residents. The establishment of facilities like a Montessori school, albeit currently underutilized, signifies steps towards creating a self-sustaining environment.

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with reflections on the feasibility of Snailbrook meeting Elon Musk's utopian aspirations. While the initial stages reveal a town fraught with unfinished infrastructure and limited amenities, the historical context and expert insights suggest that with sustained investment and strategic planning, Snailbrook could evolve into a successful company town. However, challenges such as regulatory compliance and the need for more substantial infrastructure remain significant obstacles.

Noel King summarizes the episode, underscoring the complexities of building a modern company town in today’s economic landscape and questioning whether Musk’s vision can overcome the inherent difficulties observed during Ronnie Mola’s visit.

Key Takeaways:

• Elon Musk's Ambition: Snailbrook is Musk's attempt to create a company town to support his expansive business ventures in Texas.

• Current Reality: The town is in its nascent stage, primarily consisting of temporary housing and basic amenities, falling short of Musk’s utopian vision.

• Historical Lessons: Company towns have a mixed legacy in America, with successes tied to good employer practices and failures often resulting from labor conflicts and overreach.

• Future Potential: With Musk's resources and commitment, there's potential for Snailbrook to develop into a thriving community, though significant challenges remain.

Notable Quotes:

• Noel King [00:01]: "Snailbrook is not a town just yet. It is currently under construction outside of Austin."

• Ronnie Mola [00:31]: "It's got a lot of rough edges and it's definitely nothing that you would call like a utopia."

• Price Fishback [15:38]: "One of the major reasons they had [company towns] is isolation. You're just out in the middle of nowhere."

Produced by Victoria Chamberlain. Edited by Matthew Collette. Engineers: Patrick Boyd and Andrea. Fact-checked by Laura Bullard. © Vox Media.