(Image of Buc-ee's in Terrell, Texas courtesy of WikiCommons user CJ Jameywiki.)
Writer Michael J. Mooney and photographer Dave Shafer landed the dream journalistic assignment. They "had" to spend 24 hours in the Buc-ee's Denton travel center for their article in the May 2021 issue of Texas Highways magazine. Lucky!
They wanted to decode something so simple yet hard to explain -- why so many people (Texan or not) are so obsessed with a gas station. Further, how does Buc-ee's embody the Spirit of Texas?
Through their observations they encountered a just married couple needing snacks for their honeymoon, a mother daughter duo out for a girls' trip, collegiate athletes, office coworkers grabbing snacks for their colleagues and enjoying an adventure to break up the daily monotony, construction workers, and a dude visiting from Greece. They confirm our assertion that Buc-ee is a big tent of a guy by explaining: "Throughout the day, I talk with all sorts of people. It's a mix of ages, races, and everything else. It's blue-collar, white-collar, Democrat, Republican, rich, poor. There are people from out of state, people from other countries, and people from the apartments down the road."
It's interesting to note how things in the 24/7 travel center change throughout the day. There are all sorts of people and reasons for people to drop in around the clock. These reasons range from fueling up vehicles to using the bathroom to grabbing a meal or snacks to a welcome break from driving during a road trip to stocking up on Texas kitsch. Mooney notes that the offbeat vibes that attract all sorts of people are what he finds so appealing. He goes on to state: "It breaks up the monotony of life."
Plus, Texas is anything but dull. Thus, Buc-ee's embodies the Lone Star State's spirit of big and bold. No wonder why Texans are so proud of their state.
That's a high calling. While life is sometimes exhilarating, it also has its humdrum doldrums. Thank goodness for a wondrous experience provided by an unlikely party -- a gas station chain. Some people just don't get it. Either way, we here at Texas Snax are trying our darndest to help alleviate any dullness in all y'all's lives. So, whether it's for you or someone else, reach out for some wonderment, and we'll ship it to your doorstep or wherever else y'all desire.