Buc-ee’s Targets First Oklahoma Location at I-40 and Cimarron Road in Oklahoma City
City Council approves ODOT infrastructure deal for proposed I-40 and Cimarron Road site as the Texas chain accelerates its multi-state expansion.
Oklahoma City officials confirmed Tuesday that Buc-ee’s is negotiating to build its first travel center in the state at the intersection of Interstate 40 and Cimarron Road on the city’s west side. Mayor David Holt disclosed the active discussions after the City Council approved an infrastructure agreement involving the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the development entity tied to the Texas-based chain.
No construction timeline or projected opening date has been announced, and the proposed site does not yet appear on the company’s published development schedule. The ODOT partnership signals that highway access modifications will be required to accommodate the massive footprint typical of Buc-ee’s properties, which frequently exceed 50,000 square feet and feature more than 100 fueling positions. Standard interstate interchanges rarely support that volume of turning traffic without dedicated ramp expansions and signal upgrades.
The potential Oklahoma City site sits along one of the busiest east-west corridors in the southern United States. I-40 carries heavy cross-country freight and tourist traffic between Albuquerque and Little Rock, making it a prime artery for a brand built entirely around long-distance drivers. Buc-ee’s historically clusters its locations along major interstates rather than inside dense urban cores, prioritizing easy semi-truck access — though the chain famously prohibits commercial 18-wheelers from parking at its facilities to preserve space for passenger vehicles and recreational travelers.
Co-founder and CEO Arch “Beaver” Aplin III has made the company’s site selection criteria increasingly explicit in recent months. During the August grand opening of the chain’s first Arkansas location in Benton, Aplin stated that Buc-ee’s actively prioritizes states with conservative regulatory environments and business-friendly tax structures. He noted the company prefers jurisdictions where local leadership demonstrates enthusiasm for the project, avoiding markets where zoning disputes or community opposition could delay construction.
That philosophy aligns with Oklahoma’s broader economic development posture. The state has aggressively courted retail and logistics investments through its Quality Jobs Program and various tax incentive frameworks aimed at large-scale commercial developments. Landing a high-profile brand like Buc-ee’s functions as both a direct revenue generator and a signal to other regional chains evaluating expansion into the Sooner State.
Founded in 1982 in Lake Jackson, Texas, Buc-ee’s operated almost exclusively within its home state for decades before accelerating a multi-state push in the early 2020s. The chain now operates or is developing locations across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, Mississippi, Missouri, and Arkansas. The June 2025 opening in Mount Crawford, Virginia, marked its East Coast debut.
The company’s published pipeline extends well into the late 2020s. First-in-state locations are slated for Ruston, Louisiana, and Kansas City, Kansas, in 2027, alongside new sites in Gallaway, Tennessee; St. Lucie, Florida; Boerne, Texas; and Monroe County, Georgia. Development schedules for 2028 currently list Mebane, North Carolina — which would serve as the brand’s entry into that state — and Lafayette, Louisiana. The company routinely cautions that these target years remain subject to permitting, construction, and real estate variables.
Beyond fuel and snacks, Buc-ee’s operates as a significant regional employer. Store managers at existing locations can earn up to $275,000 annually without holding a college degree, a compensation structure that has drawn national attention amid broader debates over retail wages and workforce requirements. Each new travel center typically generates hundreds of full-time and part-time jobs, ranging from food service and merchandising to facility maintenance.
Holt’s confirmation follows months of local speculation regarding the chain’s interest in the Oklahoma City market. The mayor stated that while foundational work remains, the city looks forward to welcoming the brand. Buc-ee’s corporate representatives have not publicly commented on the specific Oklahoma City negotiations or provided additional details regarding the scope of the proposed Cimarron Road development.
