Officially, Buc-ee’s is coming to Arkansas

Benton, Arkansas – Buc-ee’s is officially coming to Arkansas. The company’s well-loved mascot, Buc-ee the beaver, surprised thousands of spectators on Friday at War Memorial Stadium just prior to the 2024 Salt Bowl kickoff.

A video announcement made by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders was shown during the game.
It’s time to officially announce it after months of rumors. Saline County, in the center of Arkansas, will serve as the home of the soon-to-open Buc-ee’s. Visitors and Arkansans alike won’t need to travel outside of our state to enjoy this essential detour,” she stated.

The iconic Buc-ee the Beaver welcomed those in attendance as the stadium glowed with Friday night lights.

Buc-ees and the City of Benton finally crossed the finish line after more than a year of planning.
This Thursday, Benton Mayor Tom Farmer gave the agreement his formal approval.

“Everyone has signed the necessary documents, and they [the Buc-ees] have signed every contract. They’re still awaiting a minor permit, and until they receive one, they are powerless. Thus, we continue to wait for that. However, everything is still going on right now, Mayor Farmer stated.

Mayor Farmer stated that the Corps of Engineers will determine when the city receives the permit, but that once it does, things would proceed swiftly.

“Once they get the permit, they’ll start the next day,” stated Farmer.

We have all the details you need to figure out where the enormous petrol station will be located in the Natural State when it opens to the public.

The well-liked store will be arriving in Benton and can be located on I-30 between exits 114 and 116.

The agreement has been formulated for almost a year.

When the Benton Advertising and Promotion Commission approved the acquisition of land close to the Haskell exit off of Interstate 30 last July, rumors about Buc-ee’s arrival in Arkansas began to circulate.

The land was bought the same month by CSMS Management, LLC., a real estate division of the chain with its headquarters in Pearland, Texas, though Buc-ee’s first refused to acknowledge their involvement.

At a meeting in which Buc-ee’s officials were present, the city’s planning commission approved the gas station’s site layout and utilities in April 2024.

Following a meeting in July, the Benton City Council decided to formally rename the intersection of Highway 229 and the proposed store entry as Buc-ee’s Boulevard and approved the installation of a traffic light there.

A map showing the modification was also made public by the Arkansas Department of Transportation, and also featured the Buc-ee logo.

The Advertising and Promotion Commission was updated on the agreement by Benton’s lawyer on August 21, and they were requested to approve the property’s sale.

Subsequently, the resolution was approved by the commission, paving the path for the city to complete the transaction.

The first Buc-ee’s in Arkansas will be in Benton.

At the Salt Bowl, Mayor Farmer made the major announcement. “This is a fantastic move for our county, for our city, for the citizens, but more importantly, for the state of Arkansas, because it’s bigger than just Saline County,” he said.

“I’m so thankful to Buc-ee’s for choosing Benton as their first home in Arkansas, you know, and to get the mascot here and the way the people’s crowds, it’s just amazing,” he said.

Mayor Farmer was unable to provide us with an estimated completion date at this time, but once the city receives the final permit, the process is anticipated to go as planned.