LEAVE IT TO BEAVER

Buc-ee's opens massive new San Marcos travel center

The new travel center on I-35 will open August 12. (Pictured: A Buc-ee's location in Alabama)

Photo by John Perry/ CC BY-SA 2.0

Road trips from San Antonio to Austin will be changing a lot for some snack-obsessed drivers. The iconic roadside gas station and store Buc-ee's will open its new San Marcos travel center on Wednesday, August 12.

The 74,000-square-foot travel center is located at 3245 N. IH 35 — technically in San Marcos, but right on the edge of Kyle. The public can stop by starting at 6 am, and a ribbon-cutting with San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson and County Judge Ruben Becerra marks the occasion at 10 am.

Like other Buc-ee's locations, this one will sell Texas barbecue, kolaches, fudge, fresh pastries, and packaged snacks like the famous Beaver Nuggets, made from puffed cornmeal. There are also 128 fueling positions, and the business will employ more than 200 workers with above-minimum starting pay, benefits, and paid vacation, a press release says.

"The Buc-ee's mantra is 'exceed expectations,' and this San Marcos location is a special step for us in that regard. The San Marcos store will help us provide the ultimate Buc-ee's experience to all I-35 travelers, north and southbound!" said Stan Beard of Buc-ee's.

Buc-ee's, which started in the Houston-area town of Lake Jackson in 1982, is a Texas icon. It has a total of 57 stores in 13 states, including Texas.

The San Marcos opening is a bright spot in Buc-ee's current media coverage, which is currently fixated on a lawsuit. Buc-ee's has sued an Ohio mini-mart for an alleged trademark infringement.

The spat even caught the attention of comedian and talk show host John Oliver, who discussed it in two episodes of Last Week Tonight that aired July 26 and August 9. Oliver's remarks focused on the store logos, but an official Buc-ee's statement takes issue instead with an Ohio Trade Name Registration.

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ON THE ROAD

6 Hill Country restaurants worth the drive from San Antonio

Old City Hall/ Facebook

Old City Hall in New Braunfels has our vote.

Wine gets all the attention in the Hill Country, but something has to soak it up. From famed barbecue joints to elegant bistros, some of the region’s best eats are just a short drive from San Antonio. These six spots are our favorite detours.

The Dodging Duck Brewhaus
Named for Cibolo Creek's most famous waddlers, this Boerne gastropub has an international menu that ranges from blistered shishito peppers to fish and chips. But flowing beer calls for a sturdy foundation. Get your ducks in a row with a beer sampler paired with hearty German fare like huge Bavarian-style pretzels or a spicy bratwurst.

Old City Hall Restaurant & Bar
Housed in a, well, old city hall, the graceful New Braunfels newcomer is now more of a hub of languorous date nights than municipal intrigue. Still, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t inspire a few debates. Should the appetizer be the lighter smoked crab dip with farm-fresh crudité or indulgent truffle fries paired with a frosty gin martini?

Eat your heart out at Salt Lick BBQ.Salt Lick BBQ/ Facebook

Salt Lick BBQ
Sure, some Texans obsess about post oak versus mesquite, but this Driftwood barbecue joint is not for barbecue cultists. While the famous circular smoker is mostly just for show, the all-you-can-eat family meal is still a rite of passage. For $33.95, guests can munch on beef brisket, sausage, pork ribs, and all the Texas fixings.

The Blue Bonnet Cafe
This Marble Falls charmer, open since 1929, is famed for sky-high meringues that tower as high as five inches. Pie, however, is just the start. Almost all of the fare is a little oversized, from a Dagwood club to a hefty Wednesday meatloaf special. The stripped-down interior isn’t much to look at (there’s a lot of Millennial grey), but that doesn’t mean your eyes won’t be popping.

Vaudeville Fredericksburg At Vaudeville, come for the shopping; stay for the bistro cuisine.Vaudeville/ Facebook

Vaudeville Bistro
It’s a boutique. It’s a wine bar. It’s a stylish brasserie. Much like its namesake, Fredericksburg's Main Street stunner likes to lay on the variety. Start with Spanish-style grilled octopus, then head to the showstopping rack of lamb. The curtain call is a chocolate chunk pecan cookie almost richer than the dark chocolate pot de creme.

Calivence
This Fredericksburg winery's biggest surprise isn’t the bright Cab Franc. The property also hosts a charming bistro serving French-Californian fare. Housed in an 1869 Sunday house, the quaint spot serves pairing-friendly dishes like crostini, oysters, and a Thai steak salad with a minty chutney. And, of course, an absolutely killer crème brûlée.

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