FAQs

  • Texas-based chain with the largest gas stations in the world. Buc-ee’s holds the world’s record for largest gas station and longest car wash at 120 fuel pumps and 75,000sq ft. Source: Newsweek

    • Anywhere from 8,000 to 20,000 cars per day visit Buc-ee’s.Source: Bucees & FB Virginia Bucees (during peak seasons).

    • Buc-ee’s will bring 8,000 - 20,000 more cars per day, every day — this is the same number of cars that the Larkspur Renaissance Festival brings, but it will be every day!

  • Buc-ee’s will consume 10.2 Million gallons of water per year, that’s 18.5% of the total consumption by Palmer Lake residents. Source: Town of Palmer Lake Water authority

  • Buc-ee’s is open 24/7, 365 days per year.

  • 80-90% of the visitors are travelers not from the local area.

    • A traffic circle, common at other Buc-ee’s locations to mitigate traffic, was already turned down by CDOT due to the proximity of Douglas County which will not allow cut in to their right of way or into their conservation easement.

    • Buc-ee’s will bring 8,000 - 20,000 more cars per day, every day — this is the same number of cars that the Larkspur Renaissance Festival brings, but it will be every day!

    • Major infrastructure improvements will be required, but this will ultimately be paid for by the town of Palmer Lake through capital incentive rebates and tax returns.

    • It’s hard to estimate quantitatively but Buc-ee’s will be a competitor for similar items sold.

    • Buc-ee’s opening hourly pay is $20 which will be difficult for local businesses to compete and therefore will lose their employees due to this siphoning tactic for small towns.

    • Johnson's Corner Restaurant, 3 miles away from Johnstown Buc-ee's, went out of business after 80 years, 10 months after Johnstown Buc-ee's opened. Source: 9 News

    • Similar to the Johnstown location, Buc-ee’s will negotiate a ~50% tax return for 20+ years. Johnstown location only receives ~$375k/annually (Johnstown’s sales tax is 3.5%. Estimated store revenue is $25M. 0.5% of sales tax reserved for capital improvements. Johnstown earns 1.5% sales tax of $25M = $375k).

    • Buc-ee’s traditionally negotiates millions on “capital incentives” from the gaining municipality to pay for capital improvements such as road work.

    • Buc-ee’s currently has worse employee satisfaction rates than McDonald’s and Walmart and is known for incredibly high employee turn-over due to poor labor practices.

    • A Houston court likened Buc-ee’s employment agreements to “indentured servitude.”

    • The highest paying Buc-ee’s jobs traditionally go to “in-house” managers that come from Texas and are required to pay back salary if employees quit before a certain time-frame.

  • No. Palmer Lake’s master plan discourages big box stores and franchises, and prioritizes dark skies, open space, and working with other local governments including the Town of Monument and Douglas County. This area is zoned, in part, commercial service which should serve the community. Buc-ee’s states that 90% of its customers are travelers (and 70% are from out of state). Palmer Lake’s master plan calls for a feed store or other small commercial development which would benefit the community in this area.