A giant beaver. Award-winning bathrooms. Massive fan-fave gas stop may hit Idaho
They say everything is bigger in Texas. But when it comes to a fan-favorite travel center with an iconic friendly beaver, Idaho might soon be close behind.
Records from the city of Meridian indicate that Buc-ee’s, the Texas convenience-store-chain-on-steroids, is considering a 74,000-square-foot travel center at the Meridian Road interchange off Interstate 84. At that size, it would be one of the largest Buc-ee’s in the country — not to mention one of the largest convenience stores in the world.
The records, reported earlier by BoiseDev and obtained by the Idaho Statesman through a public-records request, show discussions between city staff and the Boise Valley Economic Partnership about the possibility of the chain making Meridian its first home in Idaho.
“They are currently in negotiations to purchase about 30 acres at the Meridian Road interchange to build a large travel center (not a truck stop),” wrote Curtis Calder, the city’s economic development administrator, in an email to representatives from the partnership. The partnership, an arm of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce, promotes economic development in Ada, Canyon, Gem and Owyhee counties.
Calder said the Buc-ee’s could be 74,000 square feet, almost as large as the chain’s — and world’s — largest in Luling, Texas, which clocks in at nearly 75,600 square feet. The store could require a $50 million capital expenditure, employ between 175 and 225 full-time staffers, and spend $9 million annually on payroll.
Emails indicate city staff met with representatives from the partnership on June 12 to discuss “possible state and regional incentives” for the business.
The Statesman attempted to reach Calder, who was not available for comment. Beth Ineck, the partnership’s director of economic development, told the Statesman by email that the partnership “does not comment on any projects.”
Buc-ee’s, which opened its first store in Texas in 1982, has amassed a cult following and grown to over 50 stores in nearly a dozen states. Its supersized travel centers are known for their endless rows of gas pumps, Buc-ee-the-Beaver mascot and branded goods, award-winningly-pristine bathrooms, and southern eats. The stores stay open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
“Buc-ee’s seems to have its own gravitational pull,” wrote the Washington Post in a recent piece about a Buc-ee’s opening in Virginia, “yanking cars off highways and toward its dizzying selection of beef jerky, lawn chairs, beer, pickled quail eggs, homemade fudge and 13-ounce, 1,700-calorie bags of Beaver Nuggets.” One excited mother interviewed by a Post reporter on opening day said she’d rather take her son to Buc-ee’s than to Disney.
The name, pronounced BUCK-eez, is a combination of founder Arch Aplin’s dog, Buck, and Aplin’s childhood nickname, Beaver, according to Southern Living magazine.
ACHD records show traffic counts for possible travel center
Additional emails provided to the Statesman from the Ada County Highway District show a traffic count analysis for a possible travel center at the northwest corner of the Meridian Road interchange with access from Waltman Lane.
Boise-based engineering and design firm Kimley-Horn submitted the analysis for the travel center, which would have 104 fuel pumps and generate over 2,800 new vehicle trips per day. An additional 16,300 trips would be diverted from other roads and come to the travel center instead, meaning the center could see more than 19,000 trips per day.
As Calder wrote, Buc-ee’s wouldn’t be a truck stop — it doesn’t allow 18-wheelers — just a big C-store with an asphalt ocean of fuel-pump islands. The Boise area has two major truck stops along I-84: the Stage Stop in Southeast Boise and Flying J travel center in Caldwell.
“To my knowledge we do not have a convenience store/refueling station similar in size to what Buc-ee’s traditionally offers,” a Meridian spokesperson told the Statesman in an email.
Buc-ee’s spokesperson Crissy Gonzales declined to comment.
This story was originally published July 11, 2025 at 4:00 AM.
