Texas Travel Icon Buc-ee’s Is Out Of Control, And We Love It

It's been many years since my first trip to Buc-ee's. It was in Ft. Worth, and I was going to South Padre. My mind was blown. Living in Oklahoma I had never seen anything like it. It was a truck stop without the trucks selling fuel, snacks, drinks, brisket, the latest releases from Texas country artists on CD, home decor, and even firepits for your backyard. It was madness, and I loved it. Buc-ee's has grown a lot since then, and it's getting crazy...in a good way.

Buc-ee's, A Texas Staple, Is Taking Over

Buc-ee's had humble enough beginnings. It began in Clute, Texas. Back then the stores were your average convenience store. Supposedly, they only had a handful of fuel pumps. From there, Buc-ee's has expanded in ways I'm sure the founders never imagined.

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They've gone from a simple convenience store to having travel centers open in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Colorado, and Missouri. You see t-shirts, cups, and stuffed beavers everywhere you go. There's even the pop-up homage to Buc-ee's in West Texas; the notorious "World's Smallest Bucc-e's".

It's still not enough, though. Buc-ee's is taking it a step further.

The World's Largest Buc-ee's Opens This Year In Luling, Texas

On June 10, 2024, at 6 AM, Buc-ee's will open the doors at the world's largest Buc-ee's. It's going to be a 75,000-square-foot behemoth full of everything you've come to expect at Buc-ee's. There will be thousands of drink and snack options, 120 fueling stations, and plenty of Buc-ee branded swag.

The current record holder is in Sevierville, Tennessee. It opened in June of last year. I wonder if there are any plans to move the record somewhere else in 2025. The location in Tennessee comes in at 74,000 square feet, 1,000 less than the new record holder in Luling.

I'm loving this. Watching Buc-ee's expand fills your heart with a certain type of pride that only a Texan could have. That, and it means there is a better chance of stopping at a Buc-ee's whenever I'm traveling. Their restrooms are the best.