Plans Moving Forward for Louisiana Buc-ee’s – UPDATE

Louisiana fans of Buc-ee's the over-the-top travel stop will be pleased to know that progress is actually beginning on the site that will be Louisiana's first Buc-ee's store. The popular travel center has almost achieved "cult" status since they began selling fuel, smoked brisket, and offering travelers sparkling clean restrooms since the first Buc-ee's opened in back in 1982.

Buc-ee's has been so popular with Louisiana motorists that some have actually made day trips to the Buc-ee's in Baytown, Texas which is the closest location of the travel center to Louisiana. However, residents of southeastern Louisiana will have a new Buc-ee's to visit that's even closer when Buc-ee's opens up their Harrison County, Mississippi store later this year.

What is the Status of Buc-ee's in Ruston Louisiana?

The latest news that we have on the proposed I-20 location of Buc-ee's near Ruston, Louisiana is less about barbecue and more about permits and permissions.  The City of Ruston is working with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to get the paperwork in place so construction on roads leading to the new store can be built.

It is estimated that just the roads around the new project will come with a bill of $25 million dollars. A portion of those funds are being paid through the city of Ruston’s Tax Incremental District funds. Now, if you feel that $25 million is a bit pricey to build roads for a private business, please consider this. Mayor Ronny Walker of Ruston believes that a new Buc-ee's will bring some 15,000 cars onto the property every day.

The reward is well worth the risk when it comes to spending the money on the roads. Heck, in Mississippi, they are having to build an entire overpass for the Buc-ee's that is being built in Harrison County.

As of now, the requests have been submitted to LA DOTD and they are being studied. Once DOTD signs off and the construction plans are approved then the City of Ruston and DOTD can begin the purchase of land and the right of way for the project's transportation infrastructure.

If all goes according to plan, the new Buc-ee's on I-20 in Ruston should be open for business some time in 2025. In the meantime, the Mississippi Buc-ee's is schedule to open in Fall of 2024. And, if you just can't wait for your Beaver Nuggets you can always head west to Baytown in Texas or to the east in Robertsdale, Alabama.