While it may not seem like your typical tourist destination, people go to Buc-ee’s not as a stop along their way, but as their final destination. After seeing the size of the crowds that were flocking to a gas station, and hearing rave reviews, I had to see what the hype was all about.
As you step out of your car, you are immediately confronted by an assault on your senses. The scent of gasoline and BBQ ripe in the air. The sounds of car engines and the occasional honk overlay the low humming buzz of the crowd of conversations. The people comment on the low prices, the cleanliness, or the absurdity of some of the items for sale. The heat of the fading summer seems a little stronger amid all the metal and glass of cars scattered on the concrete.
The Rockingham County Buc-ee’s is 74,000 square feet, and has 120 gas pumps. Not your typical gas station. Sheer size is not the only way that Buc-ee’s sets itself apart from other gas stations. The space inside is utilized to its fullest money-making potential. There are two stands located in the center of the store. The busier of the two stands is constantly pushing out various types of sandwiches. The other is producing what I would classify as “southern candies” (fudge, glazed nuts, pecan bars, etc). There is also a counter at the back – think of the food order section in a Sheetz or Wawa. Here they serve burritos, baked goods, kolaches, and more. The perimeter of the store is a glorified gift shop. There are cheap miscellaneous items with the Buc-ee’s logo slapped on – think waffle iron, inflatable beaver, infinite clothing items, etc.. There are also some higher quality items such as Oakley sunglasses and Justin cowboy hats.
During my trip to Buc-ee’s, I sampled several food options. I had a pulled pork sandwich, a chopped brisket sandwich, a sausage on a stick, a double chocolate muffin, and a paddle tail. I wanted to be thorough, okay? The pulled pork and the paddle tail were the pinnacle in my opinion. The pulled pork comes pre-prepared with a sweet BBQ sauce, nestled in a soft brioche bun. The paddle tail is a flattened puff pastry, prepared like a cinnamon roll. It’s delicious – eat one, eat two, indulge. The chocolate muffin and the brisket were both good options as well, but neither would be my first choice if I were to go back. The brisket is more expensive than the pulled pork ($9.77 vs. $9.17) and is prepared with a different sauce that has a tangy flavor I’m not fond of. Do not get the sausage on a stick. It is a sausage wrapped in a flour tortilla, with a skewer through it. It is a waste of the employee’s time. It is a waste of meat and tortillas. It is a waste of a stick. Do not let it be a waste of your money.
Whether you are going to like Buc-ee’s might be more heavily impacted by your ideological views than it is by your taste in slow cooked meats and baked goods. The food tastes good, especially when you consider the price-point and convenience. Whether you are in the market for a child-sized ATV with a beaver emblem or just need to take a trip to an unusually clean bathroom, you will be able to find what you need. For those who want, Buc-ee’s provides. But could it be too much?
A water bottle was, at one point, an item that you bought one of and then used until it broke or you lost it. Now, to commemorate your summer trip to Buc-ee’s, you buy a metal water bottle with Buc-ee on it. Then you buy another a few months later that’s purple and green with spiders and skeletons to remember your fall trip. And another just a month after that with a turkey and some pilgrims. And of course you’ll also need one where Buc-ee has a long white beard and a red floppy hat, surrounded by gifts, once it begins to snow outside. Buc-ee’s certainly did not create consumerism. They probably are not even contributing to the proliferation of it in any meaningful way But, they might have perfected it. Not because of the overwhelming quantity of choices, though it certainly doesn’t hurt, but because they made it fun to engage with. I am a pretty cynical person who thinks consumerism might be the downfall of humanity, but I really enjoyed Buc-ee’s. They sell a good product, and they pay their staff well, and you can’t ask for much more out of a business, really. Overall, I give Buc-ee’s 17 beavers.