If you are from the Houston area, then yes, it’s true. I am blogging on a gas station. But this is no ordinary gas station, my friends. When we moved to the Houston area two years ago, I immediately started noticing people wearing shirts with a big beaver on the front. Adults and kids alike. THEN, I noticed cars with the same beaver sticker on them. I finally figured out there was a true following, possibly cultic following of Buc-ees gas stations.
There are currently 18 locations in and around the Houston area. We pass one on our way to Oklahoma about 45 minutes after we leave our house. Because it is so close, we have never stopped there simply because at 45 minutes, the kids are finally settling in and getting quiet for our long ride home. However, people love Buc-ees. Friends from Houston make Buc-ees their first stop on a road trip north. So, I had to find out what the fuss was all about.
I was alone and driving back home and decided to make a dash to Buc-ees. First, there is no dash. Buc-ees is amazing…cue the Wally World music. At first notice, you see an impeccably clean and organized gas station despite the hundreds, and I mean hundreds of people filtering in and out. As I walked around the store, I saw food and gifts of great varieties.
The food. Oh, the food….homemade fudge behind a deli bar with at least 50 choices of flavors. The same goes for homemade beef jerky. I am not a jerky girl, but the assortment and freshness of beef jerky made even me want to try it.
They have fresh deli sandwiches, desserts, and the standard cokes, candy, etc. But who sees that stuff when “fresh” is everywhere you turn?
The gifts…a baby section with darling clothes, toys and books… A native Texan section with everything you can think of with a Texas flag or the state of Texas on it… A Texas College section with college paraphernalia and clothing. There is even a cooking section with cookbooks and kitchen items…CUTE kitchen items.
Everyone that works there is friendly, dressed nice, have all their teeth and not covered in tats. That is a rule for hire…no outward piercings, tats and no criminal history. The people that work there are upstanding citizens and they appear to really enjoy their job.
Next door to this amazing wonder store is the Outdoor Store.
In the Outdoor Store, they sell furniture, gifts, clothing, cookware…all of the rustic sort.
An outdoorsman’s kind of store. Antlers are a-plenty. I was amazed at what they had to offer and was thinking that I should of brought a U-Haul with me to the middle of nowhere on I-45!
After being at Buc-ees for at least an hour, I came home with a T-shirt for everyone in my family (we had to conform!), a few gifts, and a few pieces of Texas paraphernalia. If you are anywhere near any of the Buc-ees locations, run, don’t walk. It will certainly be one of the best potty stops you will make in the Houston area. I can only hope that Buc-ees continues to grow and spread north…all the way to Oklahoma so I can make every stop a Buc-ees stop!
