(NEXSTAR) — To some, the sight of a bucktoothed beaver wearing a red baseball cap may mean nothing. To others, it serves as the promise of a massive travel center, Beaver Nuggets, brisket, and quite possibly the largest-ever souvenir shop you’ll see for a gas station.
We are, of course, referring to Buc-ee’s.
The first store of the Texas-based chain opened in 1982, but its first true travel center opened in 2003. That location, in Luling, outside of San Antonio, was damaged in a fire last year but has since been replaced.
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It’s the massive travel centers — featuring everything from fuel and snacks to Buc-ee’s merchandise, kitchen items, and even hunting gear — that have seemingly attracted a cult-like following to the brand. The company’s beloved mascot, Buc-ee the Beaver, receives just as much adoration (and, in some cases, his appearance is at the center of lawsuits).
In 2025, Buc-ee’s broke ground in several new travel centers, including Goodyear, Arizona; San Marcos, Texas; and Benton, Arkansas. In October alone, Buc-ee’s started work in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Kansas City, Kansas; and Ruston, Louisiana…