Buc-ee’s fans will have a new pitstop to add to their route. The Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted 5–2 to approve the travel center.
The new Stafford Buc-ee’s will encompass around 38 acres at a site along I-95 about 15 miles south of Dumfries. Its footprint will include 833 parking spaces and 120 fuel pumps. The plan also includes a 45‑foot sign and new road improvements around the interchange area. The store itself will span 74,000 square feet.
The 5–2 vote followed a five-hour public hearing with passionate testimony from both sides, Washington Business Journal reports. Supporters said Buc-ee’s provides as a safe travel stop for drivers and will create jobs and revenue.
Opponents of the plan included residents of the nearby Embrey Mill and Austin Ridge communities. They said Buc-ee’s will create massive traffic, environmental, and financial issues for the area. One resident testified that Buc-ee’s will be the “self-inflicted demise of our county,” WBJ reported.
Wednesday’s board approval follows a March 26 Stafford Planning Commission 4–3 vote to approve the new Buc-ee’s.
Buc-ee’s in Virginia
The first Buc-ee’s in Virginia opened in Rockingham County near Harrisonburg last June to crowds of excited visitors. A New Kent location is in the works to open off of I-64 in 2029.
The Texas-based chain has garnered a cult-like following for its massive stores, iconic beaver mascot, and ready-made foods like “beaver nuggets.”
Feature image, JHVEPhoto /stock.adobe.com
