New Louisiana Buc-ee’s Location “Getting Closer Everyday”

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Last summer Buc-ee's announced they had secured an 84-acre tract of land north of I-20 in Ruston at the new Tarbutton Rd exit to build a new location in North Louisiana.  Not much has been heard since the exciting news, but KEEL News reached out to Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker on Wednesday for an update. And it's all good news.

We built the new interchange there about 4 years ago, so the interchange itself is fine there, but all the frontage roads and all the service roads in and around Buc-ee's will have to be built. One from Tarbutton to Grambling's exit, which is about two and half miles, so a lot of work to be done.  Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker

Walker said his administration recently met with new DOTD Director Joe Donahue.

 We met with him for about an hour and a half a week ago this past Friday, got a lot of the details worked out so we're getting closer each day.

When asked if any construction has actually started, Walker said they are still waiting on DOTD approval.

"No, we have not started the work... so we've got engineering work taking place now.  We actually can't finish that engineering work until DOTD signs off on the plan itself."  Walker continued, "Once we get those plans finalized as far as what the DOTD will allow, and Federal HIghway gets involved because it's altering a ramp that goes onto the interstate. So, a lot of moving pieces but once that's finalized our engineers are already working on the plans..."

If you've driven I-20 to Dallas and stopped at the Buc-ee's in Terrell Texas, you've seen how economic growth explodes around a Buc-ee's Travel Center.  Where there was once only empty fields at the I-20/Highway 80 interchange, there is now almost an entirely new community that includes restaurants, movie theaters, furniture stores, car dealerships, hotels, and more.  And it is still growing.

When asked if he's been contacted by other businesses wanting to come to Ruston, Mayor Walker told KEEL News:

"Oh absolutely, we started getting calls from people, not just around that location, but people just wanting to all of a sudden have something in Ruston, whether it's a hotel or restaurant or whatever."  Walker continued, "So we truly expect it to build up much like the location in Terrell.  We're just looking forward to the growth. It's good for not only Ruston and Lincoln Parish, but the entire north Louisiana. I'm sure people will come to work from probably as far away as Minden and even Bossier City, Monroe, West Monroe, El Dorado, Jonesboro to work, because they're great jobs, they pay well and have great benefits."

Groundbreaking is expected to take place this year with hiring to begin soon before the Grand Opening in 2025.

You can hear Mayor Walker's entire interview on Wedneday's edition of the Mike & McCarty KEEL News podcast by clicking HERE