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Everything's bigger in Texas, including the world's largest Buc-ee's. 4 things to know

Isabela Ocampo
Austin American-Statesman

Everything is bigger in Texas, including the world's largest Buc-ee’s travel center.

With ample parking and clean restrooms, the latest Buc-ee's travel center opened to the public at 6 a.m. Monday. The new store, at 10070 Interstate 10 in Luling, occupies more than 75,000 square feet and is about one hour south of Austin.

Here are four fun things to know about the new travel center: 

1. Bigger is definitely better: Texas reclaims top spot

Before Monday's opening, Tennessee held the record for the largest Buc-ee's travel center in the nation, occupying about 74,000 square feet upon its debut in the summer of 2023. Not anymore. 

The new largest Buc-ee’s travel center opened to the public in Luling on Monday. The store has more than 75,000 square feet and 120 fueling positions. It replaces the first Buc-ee's ever built.

The new travel center in Luling features 120 fuel pumps and thousands of renowned snack and meal options, including Buc-ee’s famous beaver nuggets, breakfast biscuits and beef jerky. It has about 250 employees. 

"Today is different from most," said Josh Smith, Buc-ee's operations manager. "Today, we are reclaiming the title of the largest travel center for Luling, Texas."

Smith said that while Buc-ee's typically expands into new markets where its presence is not widely known, this center will attract both local residents and travelers, given the brand's 20-year history in the city.

More:Family visits all 37 Buc-ee’s in Texas for spring break. Here’s how you can, too.

Scott Rinkel gets his photo taken with Bucky the Beaver on opening day.

2. First Buc-ee’s travel center is officially replaced

The new travel center was constructed adjacent to and has replaced the original Luling Buc-ee's. The previous facility, spanning 35,000 square feet, was the brand's first travel center, established in 2003. With the opening of the latest facility, the 2003 travel center will be demolished and repurposed into a parking lot, Smith confirmed.

Buc-ee's employee Monica Seeling wraps sausage biscuits at the new travel center.

3. Authentic 'low and slow' Texan barbecue is here to stay

Buc-ee’s is committed to providing classic barbecue sandwiches that keep customers coming back for more.

Randy Pauly, director of barbecue at Buc-ee's, said, "These recipes are essentially what we win with."

Pauly oversees the training of employees to ensure the continued provision of Buc-ee's signature meals. Despite the larger size and scope of the new location, the barbecue offerings remain unchanged.

More:Watch as Lenny Kravitz strolls Buc-ee's for the first time with Beaver Nuggets in hand

4. New Buc-ee's is 35th store in Texas

After this grand opening, Buc-ee’s operates 49 stores across Texas and the South, according to a news release. Texas leads the way with 35 locations. Since the beginning of its multistate expansion efforts in 2019, Buc-ee’s has opened travel centers in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Colorado, Virginia and Mississippi.Â