summer pit stops

World's largest Buc-ee's to open outside San Antonio in June

Texas travelers heading east from San Antonio have a new must-see pit stop to add to their itinerary this summer: The largest Buc-ee's in the U.S., opening at 10070 I-10 in Luling on Monday, June 10.

As CultureMap reported in 2022, this new Buc-ee's is replacing Luling's current store, which was built in 2003 as Buc-ee's first family travel center. The new space claims the "world's largest" title thanks to its gigantic 75,000-square-foot-plus space, 120 "fueling positions," and all of the cult classic Buc-ee's snacks, barbecue, and beverages that travelers have been obsessing over for decades.

Following the opening of the store at 6 am on June 10, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 12 pm.

Photo courtesy of Buc-ee's

The new Luling Buc-ee's will open June 10.

"We are thrilled to open the doors to the world’s largest Buc-ee’s travel center right here in the Great State of Texas," said Buc-ee's director of real estate Stan Beard in the release. "It’s particularly exciting, considering this is the Buc-ee’s that started it all, so we are really looking forward to celebrating with the incredible people of Luling."

People go nuts over Buc-ee's fudge.Photo courtesy of Buc-ee's

Previously, the Buc-ee's in New Braunfels reigned as the largest convenience store in the world, at a little more than 66,000 square feet in size. Due to the chain's expansion throughout the South, the Buc-ee's in Sevierville, Tennessee, eventually took the title away from Texas; It was then taken by the Buc-ee's in Johnstown, Colorado. The new Luling store beats those out-of-state stores by about 1,000 square feet.

The new store will bring 200 jobs to the city, and lauds its own pay in the press release for "beginning well above minimum wage." Employees receive full benefits, a six percent 401k match, and three weeks of paid vacation time.

Still — and this may come as a shock — not everyone hears "world's largest" and "120 fueling stations" and feels warm and fuzzy. Buc-ee's has not gone without controversy regarding its environmental impact on the communities it serves; Specifically, the consequences of overdevelopment tend to ignite debates about where Buc-ee's really belongs.

Although indigenous activist organization 7 Directions of Service isn't based in Texas, it does bring up some salient points in its campaign to "Stop Buc-ee's" from expanding to Mebane, North Carolina. The group outlined its four main reasons for opposition on its website: environmental harms; the “desecration” of a large section of the Occaneechi Trading Path that runs from Virginia to Alabama; the company’s not-so-shiny history with employees; and an overall disdain for fossil fuels in a growing climate-conscious world.

Among its environmental concerns was that an influx of cars to the new Buc-ee’s would result in a significant increase of air pollution. In Luling's case, CultureMap does not have data on how traffic would change — or if it would change at all — on the main highway connecting Houston and San Antonio.

Buc-ee's currently operates 35 Texas stores and 14 stores across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, and Colorado, with two more locations in Virginia and Mississippi breaking ground earlier in 2024.

buc-ee's san antonio openings

Airline News

San Antonio gets nonstop flights to this Washington, DC airport

Photo courtesy of American Airlines

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American Airlines will soon introduce long-awaited nonstop flights between San Antonio (SAT) and Washington, D.C. (DCA). One flight will be scheduled daily, starting in March.

Tickets for the new service will be available on sale starting December 23 through aa.com or American’s mobile app.

The route was tentatively announced in October, but the U.S. Department of Transportation has now formally approved the application by American Airlines.

“This new service will offer convenient nonstop access to our nation’s capital for San Antonians, while helping further connect customers to our comprehensive global network," said Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning, in a press release. "American thanks the many elected officials and citizens who supported our application, and we look forward to welcoming customers onboard this new service soon.”

Flight 1718, reflecting the year San Antonio was founded, will depart SAT at 6:35 am and arrive in DCA at 10:41 am. Flight 1947, reflecting the year the U.S. Air Force was established, will depart DCA at 7:45 pm and arrive in SAT at 10:43 pm.

“This long-awaited connection to our nation’s capital is a game changer for our community, opening doors to countless opportunities for travel and economic development,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “I’m grateful to those who have championed this effort and for the bipartisan support of our representatives in the Senate and House, whose advocacy was instrumental in making these flights a reality. We look forward to the positive impact this nonstop service will have for years to come."

San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh echoed the sentiments about economic development and pointed out some growth already happening in San Antonio. The release also notes that San Antonio is the largest city in Texas lacking nonstop service to DCA and the largest city in the U.S. with a majority Hispanic population without nonstop service to DCA.

“Serving the fastest-growing city in the country, SAT has achieved record-breaking passenger numbers throughout 2024. This nonstop service to and from DCA addresses a need for our military, business, educational and research communities, among others. It also promotes competition and offers more travel options for passengers flying to and from San Antonio, enhancing connectivity as we continue making progress on the airport Terminal Development Program.”

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