Buc-ee’s, Once a Texas Traveler’s Oasis, Has Lost Its Thrill | Eater

"The Texas-born travel-center chain, founded in 1982 and expanded into a full-fledged travel center in Luling, Texas in 2001 by Arch “Beaver” Aplin, is famed for spotless restrooms, an enormous selection of snacks and prepared foods (including a massive Wall of Gummies), and an extensive line of mascot-branded merchandise—from bikinis and onesies to home decor—plus a bronze beaver statue that draws selfies. Once a cult-favorite highway oasis where travelers could splurge on jerky, fudge, and other treats, rapid expansion across Texas and beyond (a 2019 opening in Robertsdale, Alabama followed by locations in Georgia and Florida and planned entries into Tennessee) has made it ubiquitous and often overcrowded: packed parking lots, long bathroom lines, clogged aisles as first-timers gawk at merch, and stressed, sometimes hostile atmospheres as shoppers hunt for staples like the chain’s chicken salad. The founder’s sizable political donations (more than $1 million to Gov. Greg Abbott and contributions to Attorney General Ken Paxton’s campaign) have prompted ethical concerns and boycott talk for some customers, which compounds the frustration of those who otherwise feel forced to stop because competing gas stations generally offer far worse facilities and food. Overall, what felt like a special mirage for weary travelers has, for many longtime fans, lost much of its magic and become a chaotic tourist draw." - Amy McCarthy