Ruston Buc-ee’s Races Toward Spring 2027 Opening

Louisiana’s first Buc-ee’s is quickly taking shape along Interstate 20 in Ruston, with exterior walls standing, roof work underway and fuel island construction moving forward. Mayor Ronny Walker recently told KEEL News that the project remains on schedule for a spring 2027 opening.

“Everything is on schedule,” Walker said. “They’re ahead of schedule on some parts of it.”

The 74,000-square-foot travel center near Tarbutton Road is expected to include 120 gas pumps and become one of the largest private investments in Ruston’s history. City crews have nearly completed the surrounding road work while also extending water, sewer and electrical service to nearby properties.

City of Ruston

Buc-ee’s Hiring Could Begin This Fall

Walker expects the company’s hiring process to begin gaining momentum during October or November, several months before the doors open. He said interviews could be held at the Ruston Civic Center after applicants complete the company’s online application process.

Buc-ee’s has said management jobs for new stores are generally posted about eight months before opening, while frontline positions usually appear about 90 days before opening. The company’s careers page lists opportunities in cashiering, food service, retail and maintenance, along with medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off and a 401(k) match.

City of Ruston

READ MORE: Find Out When Ruston Buc-ee's will Begin Hiring

Walker expects many of the estimated 200 or more workers to come from communities within roughly 60 miles of Ruston.

“There’s no doubt some will come from outside of Ruston,” Walker said.

Ruston Prepares for Growth Beyond Buc-ee’s

The mayor believes development surrounding the travel center could eventually become almost as important as Buc-ee’s itself. The company controls about 40 acres for future development, while other landowners near the interstate are already receiving interest.

City of Ruston

Ruston is also preparing for hundreds of new homes, a microchip facility, major road projects and additional commercial development. Walker said the city has invested more than $250 million in infrastructure during the past decade, helping Ruston compete for projects that might otherwise go elsewhere.

Walker said the city is working closely with Grambling and Louisiana Tech as utilities, housing and employment demands expand across the region.

“We aggressively went after them,” Walker said of Buc-ee’s. “We had all of those things in place.”

For Ruston residents, the giant beaver sign will represent more than chopped beef, gasoline and clean restrooms. It will mark the arrival of new jobs, new visitors and a new chapter of growth for North Louisiana.