Buc-ee’s Texas Legacy Has Surprising Louisiana Roots

For decades, Buc-ee's was one of Texas' best-kept secrets, beloved by locals for its massive stores, clean bathrooms, and famous snacks.

But as Buc-ee's expanded across Texas and throughout the South, it quickly grew into a full-blown phenomenon, drawing fans from all over.

Although Buc-ee's is widely celebrated as a home-grown Texas icon, few people know its surprising origin story: Buc-ee's actually got its start in Louisiana!

That’s right—this legendary roadside beaver is making a prodigal return to its original roots in Louisiana.

When Did Buc-ee's Open?

Since opening its first store in 1982, Buc-ee's has grown from a Texas staple into a beloved brand across the Southern U.S.

Initially rooted in Texas, Buc-ee's has since expanded to several other states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, and soon, Louisiana.

Each new store attracts enthusiastic attention from both local communities and travelers alike.

Buc-ee's stores are known for their massive size—some as big as a supermarket—with hundreds of fuel pumps and famously clean bathrooms that have earned national acclaim.

And the food options are a major draw, too!

Guests can enjoy barbecue, sandwiches, beef jerky, and, of course, Buc-ee's famous Beaver Nuggets, the sweet caramel-coated snack everyone loves.

In January 2023, Buc-ee's announced the opening of its first Louisiana location along Interstate 20 in Ruston.

While this marks Buc-ee's official debut in Louisiana, it’s more like a homecoming for the brand.

The original ideas and dreams behind Buc-ee’s began in the small village of Harrisonburg, located in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana.

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."

If not for the summers and holidays Beaver spent at his grandfather’s general store in Catahoula Parish, Buc-ee's might never have come to be.

And let’s be honest—a world without Beaver Nuggets just wouldn’t be as sweet.

Read more at shreveporttimes.com.