How Texas Phenomenon Buc-ee’s Actually Got its Start in Louisiana

For decades, one of Texas' best-kept secrets was Buc-ee's. Then, as Buc-ee's began to expand across the Lone Star State and the South, it became an absolute full-blown phenomenon.

Although Buc-ee's is a proud home-grown Texas business, did you know that Buc-ee's actually got its start in Louisiana?

That's right...it's time for the prodigal beaver to come home.

When Did Buc-ee's Open?

Since opening its first location in 1982, Buc-ee's has expanded dramatically.

Although it began as a Texas staple, the brand has since spread to several other states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, and soon Louisiana.

Each new store opening often garners significant attention and enthusiasm from local communities and travelers.

Buc-ee's locations are massive, with some being as big as a supermarket. They’ve got hundreds of gas pumps, super clean bathrooms that they’re pretty famous for, and then...there's the snacks.

You can grab some barbecue, sandwiches, beef jerky, or their famous Beaver Nuggets — those sweet, caramel-coated snacks that everybody seems to love.

Back in January of 2023, it was announced that Buc-ee's would be opening their very first Louisiana location on Interstate 20 in Ruston.

Although it might be Buc-ee's first official Louisiana location, it's a home-coming of sorts.

The idea and dreams of what would eventually become Buc-ee's initially began in the village of Harrisonburg in Catahoula Parish.

From shreveporttimes.com -

"Though Aplin, whose mother nicknamed him 'Beaver,' grew up in Texas, he spent holidays and summers in Harrisonburg at his grandfather's general store. 

It was there that he sowed the seeds for what would become an empire. He came up with the name and logo by combining his nickname with the name of his beloved dog Buck."

According to shreveporttimes.com, Beaver tells USA Today "For our family, opening a Buc-ee's in Louisiana is like coming home. We are very excited about Buc-ee’s coming to Ruston."

So, if it weren't for those Summers and holidays Beaver spent at his grandfather's general store in Catahoula Parish, it's quite likely that Buc-ee's might not exist.

A world without Beaver Nuggets just wouldn't be as sweet.

Read more at shreveporttimes.com.