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How we got here: Mississippi’s first Buc-ee’s is changing travel along I-10

Stories by Biloxi SunHerald journalists, with AI summarization

Buc-ee’s arrival in Harrison County, Mississippi, redefined travel along I-10, reshaping infrastructure and boosting economic activity. The $80 million project included rebuilding the Menge Avenue interchange and expanding a bridge to handle increased traffic, funded in part by $15 million from Harrison County. This first Mississippi location, set in Pass Christian, features a 74,000-square-foot facility with 120 fueling pumps and 24 EV charging stations.

The store plans to hire over 200 employees and potentially spur additional development in Gulfport and Biloxi. Local concerns centered on labor market impacts, mimicking trends from Buc-ee’s prior expansions in Tennessee and Alabama.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Groundbreaking for Buc-ee’s in Harrison County is less than a month away. The huge travel center will have 120 fueling pumps plus electric charging stations. By Courtesy of Buc-ee's

NO. 1: WHEN IS THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR 1ST BUC-EE’S IN MISSISSIPPI? HERE’S THE DATE AND NEW DETAILS.

The store will be one of the largest Buc-ee’s in the U.S. and will provide at least 200 full-time jobs on the Mississippi Coast. | Published August 15, 2023 | Read Full Story by Mary Perez

Heavy equipment is preparing the site of a massive new Buc-ee’s travel center at the Menge Avenue exit of I-10 in South Mississippi. By Courtesy of James Randolph, DVM

NO. 2: WORK STARTS ON FIRST BUC-EE’S IN MS. WHAT ABOUT I-10 LABOR DAY TRAFFIC NEAR THE SITE?

Road crews are off for the holiday weekend. Here’s what that means for lane closures on the interstate. | Published September 1, 2023 | Read Full Story by Mary Perez

Work continues on the construction of Buc-ee’s in Harrison County on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. By Hannah Ruhoff

NO. 3: HOW DEAL TO BRING BUC-EE’S TO SOUTH MISSISSIPPI CAME TO LIFE. ‘WE LOVE YOU. WE NEED YOU.’

The Harrison County travel center will be one of the biggest in the nation. | Published February 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Poet Wolfe

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.