It’s finally official, Buc-ee’s is coming to the natural state!
Last Friday, as thousands of fans gathered at War Memorial Stadium, a special guest made an appearance. Right before the kickoff of the 2024 Salt Bowl, the beloved mascot, Buc-ee the Beaver, surprised the audience.
In a video announcement from Governor Sanders during the game, she said, “It’s been rumored for months, but it’s time to make it official. Buc-ee’s is coming to Arkansas and Saline County, right in the heart of our state will be its home. Arkansans and visitors won’t have to leave our state to enjoy this must-visit pit stop.”
It took over a year of planning, but Buc-ees and the City of Benton reached an agreement that was officially signed off on last week.
Benton Mayor Tom Farmer said, “They have signed all the contracts, and everyone else has signed what needs to be signed. They’re still waiting on a slight permit, and they can’t do anything until they get the permit. So we are still waiting on that. But right now, everything’s ongoing.”
Mayor Farmer adds that the timeline for Buc-ees receiving that permit depends on timeliness of the Corps of Engineers, but once the permit is received he believes things will move quickly.
The super-sized gas station will be located in Benton between exits 114 and 116 along I-30.
“This is a fantastic move for our county, for our city, for the citizens, but more importantly, for the state of Arkansas, because it’s bigger than just Saline County,” said Mayor Farmer as he announced the big news at the Salt Bowl.
As for an expected completion date, Mayor Farmer couldn’t give an answer yet, but the process is expected to move along right after the city gets that one last permit.
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