Happy Valley will soon greet Buc-ee’s, the Texas-based travel center famous for its Beaver Nuggets and chopped brisket sandwiches, as the company moves forward with plans for its first Utah location.
Buc-ee’s has entered into a memorandum of understanding and a development agreement with the Springville City Council to build a 74,000-square-foot gas and convenience store on undeveloped land west of Interstate 15, near exit 261 at 1400 North and 2600 West.
Mayor Matt Packard said, “No final document has been signed, but we certainly wouldn’t get to this point if we didn’t have a lot of confidence in them and our ability to be able to finalize this transaction.” Stan Beard, Buc-ee’s director of real estate and development, echoed the company’s intent, noting that Utah’s first Buc-ee’s belongs in Springville. “We are a family travel center, we’re the fun store, and if this isn’t a fun family town, I don’t know what is,” Beard said.
Buc-ee’s will need to coordinate with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) before construction begins, and officials estimate breaking ground is still nine months to a year away, with a construction timeline of 15 to 18 months after that before the store opens.
Under the MOU, Buc-ee’s is responsible for infrastructure, with the city reimbursing certain expenses deemed to be system public improvements. Specifically, the city would reimburse Buc-ee’s for 50% of construction costs to install curb-to-curb street improvements adjacent to the property, as well as the costs of any future traffic signals at the 1400 North and 2600 West intersection. The city would also cover actual costs for installing a water line and sewer upsizing, plus $625,000 toward a sewer lift station, $600,000 toward transportation impact fees, and $400,000 toward storm drain fees. The MOU can be terminated if Buc-ee’s terminates the purchase and sale contract for any reason.
Rumors had swirled about Buc-ee’s targeting Utah for a first store in Spanish Fork, but Springville emerged as the chosen location after city officials responded to the chatter. Beard expressed confidence in the partnership, saying, “Springville is the kind of community where we are going to prosper, and our partnership is going to be bigger than I think either one of us think it is, and we’re happy to be in Utah. We’re ready to get going.”
Buc-ee’s, which started in Texas in 1983, first expanded outside the Lone Star State in 2019 with a location in Alabama. The chain is widely known for its mega-sized stores, clean restrooms, barbecue offerings, and branded apparel. The move into Utah follows a pattern seen in other communities that have welcomed Buc-ee’s, including Johnstown, Colorado, where a Buc-ee’s opened in March 2024 and drew about 80,000 visitors per month and roughly $1 million in annual tax revenue, according to local officials.
The Springville project is expected to bring more than 200 full-time jobs, with starting wages of $18 to $20 per hour, according to Buc-ee’s.
Context and outlook for readers:
– The deal represents a significant investment that includes substantial infrastructure support from the city, tied to Buc-ee’s construction and future traffic needs.
– Local planners and residents may want to monitor traffic, water, sewer, and stormwater impacts as plans move toward finalization and construction.
– If you’re curious about Buc-ee’s broader strategy, the Springville project aligns with the company’s growth outside Texas and its track record of high-volume traffic centers that serve as regional destinations.
Overall, the deal signals Springville’s aim to bolster economic development with a high-profile, job-creating project, while Buc-ee’s extends its footprint beyond Texas with a first Utah location that could become a regional draw for travelers. The timeline remains contingent on final agreements and regulatory approvals, but both sides appear confident in moving forward.