Buc-ee's Breaks Ground in Ruston, 200 Jobs

An official groundbreaking for Buc-ee’s first Louisiana travel center was held Oct. 24 at the I‑20 and Tarbutton Road site in Ruston, with Gov. Jeff Landry, Mayor Ronny Walker and U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy in attendance. The travel center will span about 74,000 square feet, include roughly 120 fueling positions and is expected to serve thousands of cars daily. Buc-ee’s says the Ruston store will create at least 200–250+ full‑time jobs with starting pay above minimum wage, full benefits and a 6% matching 401(k). The project began after landowner Marilyn Robins offered 58 acres for the site, and CEO Beaver Aplin — who has family ties to Louisiana — led the ceremony. Construction is expected to take about 15–16 months, with the company targeting completion in April 2027; Buc-ee’s also plans a second Louisiana location in Lafayette to open after Ruston.