Mayor Ronny Walker said misinformation is creating confusion and driving exaggerated reports about delays for the new Buc-ee’s project in Ruston, La.
Though Walker said the company has moved its Ruston opening date from 2026 to 2027, the acutally change is insignificant — perhaps a month or two, he said.
Walker said he met in Ruston as recently as Aug. 15 with Buc-ee’s officials who told him the company was on track to begin site work on the Ruston project in September or October.
“We have been saying for a long time that the target date was the fourth quarter of 2026,” Walker said in an interview with USA Today Network. “This would put an opening date of Jan. 2027. I don’t consider that a significant enough difference to call it a delay. We’re not at all concerned.”
The city has already began its work on the $8 million project to widen the Tarbutton Road Interstate 20 interchange to accomodate the Buc-ee’s campus.
Walker said the company projects 15,000 vehicles a day stopping at Buc-ee’s with 80% coming from 200 miles or more away.
Buc-ee’s travel centers have developed a cult following among travelers obsessed with fan favorites like Beaver Nuggets and brisket sandwiches as well as endless rows of gas pumps and famously clean restrooms.
Though the Texas-based chain has expanded in states surrounding Louisiana and beyond, the Ruston center is scheduled to be the first one in Louisiana with a second one now slated to open in Lafayette in 2028.
Ruston’s Buc-ee’s will employ at least 200 people at $18 to $20 per hour with benefits.
More: Buc-ee’s origin story began in Louisiana at a general store in tiny Harrisonburg
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Ruston mayor says misinformation about Buc-ee’s opening creates confusion
