Patriots cheer this news as America’s favorite roadside travel center, Buc-ee’s, continues its nationwide expansion with new locations planned in Arizona, Ohio, and North Carolina.
This homegrown success story showcases how an American company built on cleanliness, quality, and old-fashioned service can thrive while creating thousands of good-paying jobs in small-town America.
Buc-ee’s has been on a remarkable growth trajectory since 2019, steadily bringing its massive travel centers to states across the nation.
The company recently celebrated milestone openings in Mississippi, Virginia, and Georgia, bringing its total number of stores to 54 across nine states as of July 2025.
The crown jewel in Buc-ee’s expansion is its new flagship location in Luling, Texas, which opened this June.
This enormous 75,000-square-foot travel center replaced the original store built in 2003 and now stands as the largest Buc-ees in the world, featuring 120 fueling positions and creating at least 200 jobs with competitive pay and benefits.
Buc-ee’s director of real estate and development, Stan Bear,d stated:
“We are thrilled to open the doors to the world’s largest Buc-ee’s travel center right here in the great state of Texas. It’s particularly exciting, considering this is the Buc-ee’s that started it all, so we are really looking forward to celebrating with the incredible people of Luling.”
Buc-ee’s expansion shows no signs of slowing down. The company has announced plans for its first location in the Southwest, with a store in Goodyear, Arizona, scheduled to open in June 2026.
This marks a significant step in the company’s westward expansion following its first location outside Texas, which opened in Johnstown, Colorado, in 2024.
Other upcoming locations include Benton, Arkansas (September 2026), Ocala, Florida (2026), and Mebane, North Carolina (Late 2026 or early 2027).
Perhaps most exciting for Midwestern travelers is the planned Huber Heights, Ohio, location set to open in April 2026, bringing Buc-ee’s famous clean bathrooms and Texas hospitality to the Buckeye State.
In Kentucky, the chain store opened its second location in Smiths Grove on June 24, featuring a 53,000-square-foot travel center with 120 fueling positions.
The grand opening was attended by notable conservative leaders, including U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), who highlighted the economic impact that these travel centers bring to small communities.
Founded in 1982, Buc-ee’s has become a cultural phenomenon and a source of pride for Texans.
The company currently operates 36 locations in its home state of Texas, with additional locations planned for Boerne and San Marcos in 2026.
Unlike many national chains that prioritize cost-cutting over quality, Buc-ee’s has built its reputation on exceptionally clean bathrooms, high-quality food offerings, and American-made products.
Each new location creates approximately 200 jobs with benefits in communities that often struggle to attract major employers.
With nine more states slated to welcome their first Buc-ee travel centers in the coming years, this Texas success story demonstrates how American entrepreneurship and quality-focused business practices can create jobs and delight customers across the nation.
