COLUMBUS, Ohio’s first Buc-ee’s travel center has not even opened yet, but plans for a second location in the state are already being discussed. Officials in north-central Ohio say a new Buc-ee’s could be built near Mansfield along Interstate 71, a highway many Columbus drivers use when traveling north.
The first Buc-ee’s in Ohio is scheduled to open April 6 at 6 a.m. in Huber Heights, a suburb of Dayton about 70 miles west of Columbus.
The massive travel center sits near the intersection of Interstate 70 and State Route 235. Because of that location, it will likely become a common stop for drivers traveling between Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati and Indianapolis.
Buc-ee’s travel centers are known for their huge convenience stores, large food counters and long rows of fuel pumps. The Huber Heights site will include a store measuring roughly 74,000 square feet along with about 100 gas pumps. The location will also feature electric-vehicle charging stations and is expected to employ around 200 workers.
The opening was originally expected in 2025, but construction was delayed after a dispute between local officials over water and sewer service for the property. That disagreement temporarily paused work before the city of Huber Heights and Clark County reached an agreement that allowed construction to continue.
Second Buc-ee’s Proposed Near Mansfield Along Interstate 71
While that location prepares to open, officials in Mansfield say a second Buc-ee’s project could be moving forward.
Mansfield Mayor Jodie Perry said city leaders have received a petition to annex land near the Interstate 71 and Ohio Route 39 interchange. The proposed development would cover about 100 acres near the highway corridor.
If the project moves ahead, the site would likely include another large travel center with more than 100 fuel pumps and hundreds of parking spaces. Local officials say the development could also bring more than 200 jobs to the area.
However, the project is still in the early planning stage. City leaders say agreements have not been finalized and the proposal remains in the due-diligence phase.
If the Mansfield location is built, it would sit about 70 miles north of Columbus along Interstate 71, one of the main routes connecting central Ohio with Cleveland.
The expansion of major retail brands like Buc-ee’s highlights the region’s rapid growth, much like the Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther Highlights Crime Drop, Housing Growth.
Location Matters for Columbus Drivers
That would give Columbus-area drivers two Buc-ee’s locations within roughly the same driving distance. The Huber Heights location would serve travelers heading west on Interstate 70, while the Mansfield location would serve drivers traveling north toward Cleveland.
Buc-ee’s, which is based in Texas, has been expanding quickly across the United States in recent years. The company announced plans to open travel centers in several new states, including Ohio, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Arizona.
Even though Ohio’s first Buc-ee’s has not opened yet, the possibility of a second location shows how quickly the brand is growing across the Midwest.
Sources: Mansfield Mayor Jodie Perry, Huber Heights city officials