New Buc-ee’s in South MS expected to draw more people than Yellowstone
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Buc-ee’s opens June 9 at Exit 24 on I-10 in Harrison County, Mississippi.
- The 74,000-square-foot center includes 120 fuel pumps and 24 EV chargers.
- Expected annual visitors top 5 million, surpassing Yellowstone’s yearly traffic.
Get ready.
Buc-ee’s opens Monday, June 9 along I-10 in Harrison County and a big crowd is expected to flood through the doors opening day and for days to come.
The Beaver statue awaits near the north entrance, ready to pose for social media moments with adoring Buc-ee’s fans .
Buc-ee’s doesn’t lure people to the opening with prizes and free merchandise. Yet people typically line up hours in advance of the opening to experience what it’s like to be among the first in the doors at the 74,000 square foot travel center.
The opening is at 6 a.m., and those who are first in the door can expect an enthusiastic welcome from the staff.
Speeches and the ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. will welcome Buc-ee’s co-founder Arch Aplin III back to the site at exit 24 off I-10 in Harrison County.
Aplin, whose nickname is “Beaver,” was there for the groundbreaking in September 2023 and talked about how his grandparents owned a country store in Louisiana when he was a kid.
The first Buc-ee’s opened in Texas in 1982, and this first one in Mississippi will be number 52.
What’s a Buc-ee’s?
Whether it’s their first time at a Buc-ee’s, or if they’ve been there before, people will be amazed when they pull into this new Buc-ee’s.
The travel center is expected to draw 5 million people a year off the interstate and from across South Mississippi. That’s more than visit Yellowstone National Park each year.
A whole new intersection and bridge over I-10 were built to accommodate the $50 million travel center and the people coming for ultra-clean bathrooms, less expensive gasoline, Buc-ee’s merchandise and their trademark barbecue and snacks.
A line of 120 fuel pumps and two dozen EV charging stations is a sight.
When a Buc-ee’s opened in June 2024 in Kentucky, one report described it as a level of excitement the person never saw at an opening before: “Full-blown, pure Americana on display. And I loved every minute of it.”
24/7 food and fun
Once a Buc-ee’s opens, it stays open day and night, weekends and holidays.
The store is divided into merchandise and food.
Shelves and racks of beavers and Buc-ee’s T-shirts, hats and other souvenirs join the displays of holiday and seasonal items plus home decor.
Buc-ee’s originated in Texas, where everything is bigger, and the selection of food amazes visitors. The staff calls out when the brisket is hot and ready. The fudge counter beckons with so many tempting varieties and a wall of jerky awaits.
On the menu are plenty of salads and sandwiches, but the Beaver Nuggets and other snacks that are Buc-ee’s exclusive brand really captivate.
They’re all grab and go — no tables and chairs take up space inside Buc-ee’s. Instead people tailgating in the parking lot or feast on snacks until their destination.
If you go:
What: Buc-ee’s opens Monday, June 9
Where: Exit 24 of I-10, west of Gulfport
When: The store opens at 6 a.m. June 9. The ribbon cutting is at 10 a.m.
Considerations: Traffic is expected to be heavy during the opening days
