Update: Buc-ee’s announces more details about South Mississippi opening day
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Buc-ee’s opens June 9 in Harrison County, drawing locals and highway travelers.
- The 74,000-square-foot site includes 120 fuel pumps and round-the-clock service.
- Visitors can shop Buc-ee’s exclusives, from brisket sandwiches to Beaver Nuggets.
Buc-ee’s opens in less than two weeks and the iconic Beaver statue is in place, ready to welcome the first visitors and pose with them for selfies.
The doors of Buc-ee’s in Harrison County, west of Gulfport, open to the public at 6 a.m. on Monday, June 9. The ribbon cutting is at 10 a.m., and the location is expected to draw customers from South Mississippi and travelers passing by.
Harrison County supervisors and other local leaders are expected to help cut the ribbon and welcome Buc-ee’s to South Mississippi.
It will be the 52nd Buc-ee’s travel center in the country.
“Harrison County is a vibrant community with five thriving cities and stunning beaches. It is perfectly situated along I-10 between our Texas and Alabama stores, and we can’t wait to be the best place to stop on the Mississippi Coast,” said Stan Beard of Buc-ee’s.l
An estimated 5 million people are expected to come off the highway and into Buc-ee’s each year, said Bill Lavers, executive director of the Harrison County Development Commission.
Once it’s open, it’s always open, so travelers and locals who get a craving can get something to eat day and night and on holidays.
So what’s the big deal?
Since the groundbreaking in September 2023, South Mississippi has developed Buc-ee’s fever.
The $50 million Buc-ee’s at Menge Avenue Exit 24 in Harrison County is one of the largest in the country and the 74,000 square foot building and rows of 124 fuel pumps and 24 EV charging stations are jaw-dropping, whether it’s a visitor’s first stop or a repeat visit.
The super-sized combination gas station and convenience store is right off the interstate, at what was a quiet interchange until the site was selected as home to the first Buc-ee’s in Mississippi.
“We’ll have 120 fueling positions here,” Buc-ee’s founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin III said at the groundbreaking as he looked out at a big, open piece of land. Hook-ups for electric vehicles, something he didn’t have to consider when he opened his first Buc-ee’s in 1982, also will be plentiful.
Customers can just fuel and go — but few do, when sparkling clean restrooms, what seems like acres of shopping and the famous Beaver Nuggets await inside.
What’s good to eat?
The food section of a Buc-ee’s is set up to be like its home state of Texas, where everything is bigger — the counters beef sandwiches and fudge, the wall of jerky, the choice of beverages.
Many of the food and snacks sold at Buc-ee’s are originals, available only at one of the 51 locations of the stores that continue to expand well beyond the home state of Texas. Some are also available online.
It’s strictly grab and go — no tables and chairs, although some Buc-ee’s regulars bring their tailgating supplies and chow down in the parking lot.
Here are some of the best bets on the large and diverse menu:
Savory:
▪ Brisket is Alpin’s favorite thing on the menu and staff members call out when it’s hot and ready for tasting
▪ Sausage on a stick
▪ Pulled pork sandwiches
▪ Turkey sandwiches
What’s for breakfast:
▪ Breakfast sandwiches
▪ Breakfast tacos and burritos
Pastries and sweets:
▪ Paddle Tails dusted with cinnamon sugar
▪ Kolaches, which are Hungarian pastry rolls filled with fruit or cheese
▪ Cinnamon rolls and pralines
▪ Fudge and candies. The fudge counter has the favorites and seasonal surprises. They also have salt water taffy and retro candies
▪ Banana pudding
Salty snacks:
▪ Beaver Nuggets are enough to draw people off the highway to get a couple bags of these caramel-coated puffed corn snacks.
▪ Jerky, trail mixes, nuts and seeds come in a huge variety of flavors
▪ Chips and dip
Eating healthy:
▪ Fresh fruit is available
▪ Gluten-free sandwich
▪ Vegan wrap
▪ Vegetarian salad
▪ Low-calorie snack pack
▪ Low-sugar cookie
Quench your thirst:
▪ Fresh roast and specialty coffees
▪ Fountain drinks
▪ Lemonade
▪ Hot chocolate
There are plenty of other things unique to Buc-ee’s, such as RVs being allowed, but not tractor trailers, and Buc-ee’s Beaver being on seemingly everything, such as T-shirts, hats, toys and coffee mugs.
All these features will be revealed to South Mississippi in just two weeks when opening day finally arrives.
This story was originally published May 27, 2025 at 1:01 PM.
