Buc-ee's has officially arrived in Arkansas – and diehard fans were so determined to be among the first through the doors that hundreds camped out overnight.
The Texas travel-stop chain opened its first Arkansas location in Benton last Monday, turning the grand opening into something closer to a roadside festival than the launch of a gas station.
Located just off Interstate 30 at Exit 114, the sprawling new store gives travelers a new place to fill up, stock up on snacks and, naturally, pay a visit to one of America's famously spotless restrooms.
Company officials estimated the new location could draw around five million visitors to Benton every year, making it a potentially significant boost for the local economy.
The Benton travel center features 120 fuel pumps alongside a huge retail space packed with Buc-ee's merchandise, barbecue, fudge, jerky, pastries and its beloved Beaver Nuggets.
But long before the doors officially opened, the excitement was already building.
Hundreds of eager customers turned up during the night, camping out for around eight hours near the front of the line to make sure they wouldn't miss the historic opening.
For Buc-ee's devotees, apparently, getting there first is worth sacrificing a night's sleep.
Buc-ee's has officially arrived in Arkansas – and fans were so determined to be among the first through the doors that hundreds of people camped out overnight for around eight hours near the front of the line
The opening also marks another milestone in Buc-ee's remarkable transformation from a quirky Texas convenience store into one of America's most recognizable roadside brands.
Founded in 1982 in Clute, Texas, by Arch 'Beaver' Aplin III and Don Wasek, Buc-ee's started out with a much smaller footprint.
Today, its enormous travel centers have become attractions in their own right, often measuring tens of thousands of square feet and offering everything from freshly prepared food to novelty merchandise.
The chain now has more than 55 locations across the country, with its expansion showing little sign of slowing.
The company recently opened its first Arizona location in Goodyear, near Phoenix, where the 74,000-square-foot travel center features 120 fuel pumps and operates around the clock.
The chain has also been pushing further into the Midwest, including with its first Ohio location in Huber Heights.
Several other openings are planned as Buc-ee's continues its aggressive expansion, with locations in states including Louisiana, Kansas, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia in the pipeline.
The company's longer-term plans stretch into 2028 and 2029 too, with additional locations slated for North Carolina, Kentucky, Arkansas and Florida.
The cult Texas travel-stop chain opened its first Arkansas location in Benton last Monday, turning the grand opening into something closer to a roadside festival than the launch of a gas station
Located just off Interstate 30 at Exit 114, the sprawling new store gives road-trippers a new place to fill up, stock up on snacks and, naturally, pay a visit to one of America's famously spotless restrooms
The opening frenzy is hardly surprising given the cult status the chain has developed across the country
However, Buc-ee's recently suffered a setback in Colorado, where planning officials blocked the company from proceeding with plans for a huge location in El Paso County under its current zoning application.
Officials argued that the proposed 74,000-square-foot development, with around 120 fuel pumps, was difficult to classify as a conventional convenience store because of its enormous scale and operational impact.
The company has the option to appeal the decision.
Meanwhile, opposition to some proposed locations has also focused on traffic, noise and the sheer size of the developments - and judging by the reaction to the Arkansas opening on Reddit, Buc-ee's remains a decidedly love-it-or-hate-it kind of place.
One commenter said the stores can be an 'overwhelming experience,' while someone else described the Benton location as 'a monument to American consumerism.'
Conversely, one Reddit user argued that Buc-ee's was fundamentally different from a conventional gas station or truck stop, pointing to its huge number of fuel pumps, large footprint, employee benefits and food offering.
One local resident living just three miles away was especially excited about one detail: the store's 24-hour opening and late-night barbecue.
The food itself sparked another mini debate, with commenters discussing the price and quality of Buc-ee's barbecue sandwiches.
Several more openings are planned as Buc-ee's continues its aggressive expansion, with locations in states including Louisiana, Kansas, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia in the pipeline
Buc-ee's recently suffered a setback in Colorado, where planning officials blocked the company from proceeding with plans for a huge location in El Paso County under its current zoning application
One initially suggested a sandwich cost around $15, prompting others to point out that prices for individual sandwiches could be considerably lower, including a reported $6.99 pulled pork sandwich and $8.49 brisket sandwich.
There are some distinct differences between Buc-ee's and traditional truck stops like Pilot and Love's - one of which is it doesn't allow semi-trucks at its locations. Instead, its enormous sites are designed primarily around families, road-trippers and everyday motorists.
That has helped create the unusual phenomenon of people actually travelling out of their way to visit a gas station.
And the Arkansas opening shows just how far that enthusiasm can go.
For hundreds of fans, spending around eight hours camping overnight near the front of the queue was apparently a small price to pay for bragging rights – and the chance to be among the very first customers inside.
