Traveling to Indiana next week. How is the one in Springfield Mo? Do the roundabouts make it easier to get in and out or so much traffic it's makes it harder to get around them?

It's new. Getting in and out isn't too bad depending on the time of day you hit it. The roundabouts help a lot in keeping traffic moving and not backing up as bad as a stoplight for those going left (east bound) and south out of the store back to I-44.

More confirmation...

https://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/bucees-oklahoma-19556756.php?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwY2xjawEYYEtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHaM1JmfuQYFLC Kr0EgJ6NQo0TRM2HRd4t6441w5suepQsBUfSx75P7oNlQ_aem_ NtSI5g-9VHEYGBh56fHgOg

Buc-ee's is aiming to expand into Oklahoma, Buc-ee's General Counsel Jeff Nadalo said in an email to MySA. While the beaver-branded company is looking north of the Red River, it is also continuing to eye another neighboring state to Texas.

"We are looking at expansion through the United States, including in Oklahoma," Nadalo said. "We have a project in Ruston, L.A. that we are hopeful will proceed later this year. We also are evaluating a project in other areas of Louisiana."

If we get a Buc-ees and IKEA Oklahoma would finally be in the big leagues.

I'm good with no Buc-ees. Stopped in Springfield, Mo going to Indiana and Coming back an not worth the hassle. Way there stopped about 1pm on a Friday. It was so busy you couldn't even move through the place. Madhouse. Brisket sandwich was pretty good. Way home Sunday morning 8am was a little more manageable but there was a line for coffee as they couldn't keep it brewed fast enough I guess. The Brisket, egg burrito was horrible.

If we get a Buc-ees and IKEA Oklahoma would finally be in the big leagues.

Buc-ees has confirmed they are coming to oklahoma, as for IKEA there is word that it will go on the SW Corner of the East West Connector - I-35 Interchange

/s Can't ever find a place to sit in there. Too darn crowded. /s

Gotta put a double /s on this

Buc-ees has confirmed they are coming to oklahoma, as for IKEA there is word that it will go on the SW Corner of the East West Connector - I-35 Interchange
Yep.

Buc-ees has confirmed they are coming to oklahoma, as for IKEA there is word that it will go on the SW Corner of the East West Connector - I-35 Interchange

Sorry, where would IKEA go along I-35? Which East/West connector are you referencing?

Sorry, where would IKEA go along I-35? Which East/West connector are you referencing?
Take this with the grain of salt, but I’ve heard that Along awaited major retailer which was described to me, sounded just like IKEA, or Nebraska furniture Mart(which I doubt will come to OKC anytime soon) will be built on a parcel that will be a new commercials retail area right at the future change that will connect the east to W. Connector Freeway from the 44 to the Kickapoo Turnpike, Southern extension. a massive five stack interchange is planned And it will require a lot of properties to move, so there will be a good redevelopment opportunity for the area.

Once again, I’m no insider and I don’t have connections with any developers. This is just coming from some people that I talk to at the OTA who are working with the city of Norman. While they didn’t say an exact name, they basically described IKEA. Having ordered a bunch of stuff from IKEA I’ve talked to workers and managers there and they have all told me they are heavily eyeing the OKC market as an expansion.

Wow...okay. That's plausible.

I always figured the likes of IKEA would end up close to Memorial Road and Kilpatrick. There is a huge lot behind the Target at Penn and Memorial facing the turnpike, or it would work itself somewhere near Cabela's in the Chisholm Creek development. The north side would be easier access for those from Tulsa and Wichita.

Can someone post a map with the possible IKEA location? I can't make heads or tails of the description and I'm looking at Google Maps.

Wow...okay. That's plausible.

I always figured the likes of IKEA would end up close to Memorial Road and Kilpatrick. There is a huge lot behind the Target at Penn and Memorial facing the turnpike, or it would work itself somewhere near Cabela's in the Chisholm Creek development. The north side would be easier access for those from Tulsa and Wichita.
Yeah I was thinking memorial as well if IKEA wherever to come to OKC.

Can someone post a map with the possible IKEA location? I can't make heads or tails of the description and I'm looking at Google Maps.
I believe it would be in this journal area if it does happen. Again, I wouldn’t hold my breath.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Db8q3qDdQxtp1sdP8?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.cop y

Here are some images that I took a screenshot from the Access Oklahoma Page to better picture it.

This is the proposed interchange at I-35, Our very first Texas style five stack interchange. That excites me more than anything.

19064

Here is the overall east west connector corridor:

19065

What you see in yellow is currently in the design phase. The blue is listed as future so they have not yet begun design work. From what I understand will hear more about a timeline for the east to West connector and it’s construction in October.

There is a lot going to happen in this area in terms of freeway infrastructure. Regardless of what the Oklahoman says, Or what press release ODOT puts out, They were very much be a push to widen. I 35 soon in southern Oklahoma City. I don’t know whether that will come in the form of general purpose lanes, Or perhaps an HOV lane. They are also going to rework the roads and make them one way Moore up to Norman, They are studying reconfiguring the Flood Ave. interchange to move the left exit to the right so it flys over I-35, And add ramps to connect the Rock Creek Road and SW 34th ST. bridges to add access to I-35 from these roads.

A lot of these projects are under a single study, but will likely be constructed individually and in phases. Any additional lanes to I 35 won’t come anytime soon. That is a big selling point that ODOT and the OTA Want to use to claim that there is no more additional room to add lanes so they can get the Kickapoo turnpike fully built from a southern extension and in the future possibly around Northeast Edmond. Some of these things are going to happen near future and others are pretty far out.

But lots of exciting stuff as planned in this area. Also remember, the commuter rail is another piece of infrastructure planned for this corridor.

If IKEA is coming to the metro area, it would make perfect sense for it to go there next to the new east-west connector.

Wow...okay. That's plausible.

I always figured the likes of IKEA would end up close to Memorial Road and Kilpatrick. There is a huge lot behind the Target at Penn and Memorial facing the turnpike, or it would work itself somewhere near Cabela's in the Chisholm Creek development. The north side would be easier access for those from Tulsa and Wichita.

IKEA would probably want to be closer to I-35. But who knows, with all the new turnpikes going within the next 10 years, toll roads will become more the norm like it is in Texas.

Here are some images that I took a screenshot from the Access Oklahoma Page to better picture it.

This is the proposed interchange at I-35, Our very first Texas style five stack interchange. That excites me more than anything.

19064

Here is the overall east west connector corridor:

19065

What you see in yellow is currently in the design phase. The blue is listed as future so they have not yet begun design work. From what I understand will hear more about a timeline for the east to West connector and it’s construction in October.

There is a lot going to happen in this area in terms of freeway infrastructure. Regardless of what the Oklahoman says, Or what press release ODOT puts out, They were very much be a push to widen. I 35 soon in southern Oklahoma City. I don’t know whether that will come in the form of general purpose lanes, Or perhaps an HOV lane. They are also going to rework the roads and make them one way Moore up to Norman, They are studying reconfiguring the Flood Ave. interchange to move the left exit to the right so it flys over I-35, And add ramps to connect the Rock Creek Road and SW 34th ST. bridges to add access to I-35 from these roads.

A lot of these projects are under a single study, but will likely be constructed individually and in phases. Any additional lanes to I 35 won’t come anytime soon. That is a big selling point that ODOT and the OTA Want to use to claim that there is no more additional room to add lanes so they can get the Kickapoo turnpike fully built from a southern extension and in the future possibly around Northeast Edmond. Some of these things are going to happen near future and others are pretty far out.

But lots of exciting stuff as planned in this area. Also remember, the commuter rail is another piece of infrastructure planned for this corridor.

Thanks! Makes sense why I couldn't place the location on a current map!

^^ welcome and sorry for the horrible quality of those images. here’s a direct link to the webpage for the east west connector that has an interactive map that can better give you the idea of the alignment: https://www.accessoklahoma.com/east-west-connector

They are studying reconfiguring the Flood Ave. interchange to move the left exit to the right so it flies over I-35, And add ramps to connect the Rock Creek Road and SW 34th ST. bridges to add access to I-35 from these roads.


Never understood why they didn't fix that when they rebuilt that stretch a few years ago. That NB 'S' bend always causes a backup. The SB is no better with no one willing to drive in the far right lane.

There is a lot going to happen in this area in terms of freeway infrastructure. Regardless of what the Oklahoman says, Or what press release ODOT puts out, They were very much be a push to widen. I 35 soon in southern Oklahoma City. I don’t know whether that will come in the form of general purpose lanes, Or perhaps an HOV lane. They are also going to rework the roads and make them one way Moore up to Norman, They are studying reconfiguring the Flood Ave. interchange to move the left exit to the right so it flys over I-35, And add ramps to connect the Rock Creek Road and SW 34th ST. bridges to add access to I-35 from these roads.

Is this from conversation or is it documented somewhere you can share?

Is this from conversation or is it documented somewhere you can share?
Yes I will share some links here in a bit. I gotta drive down to San Clemente and get set up. If I don’t do it today, I’ll do it tomorrow. But has identified to study with I-35 South of OKC with Norman and Moore included.

Where can i Find these Studies

Here are some images that I took a screenshot from the Access Oklahoma Page to better picture it.

This is the proposed interchange at I-35, Our very first Texas style five stack interchange. That excites me more than anything.

19064

Here is the overall east west connector corridor:

19065

What you see in yellow is currently in the design phase. The blue is listed as future so they have not yet begun design work. From what I understand will hear more about a timeline for the east to West connector and it’s construction in October.

There is a lot going to happen in this area in terms of freeway infrastructure. Regardless of what the Oklahoman says, Or what press release ODOT puts out, They were very much be a push to widen. I 35 soon in southern Oklahoma City. I don’t know whether that will come in the form of general purpose lanes, Or perhaps an HOV lane. They are also going to rework the roads and make them one way Moore up to Norman, They are studying reconfiguring the Flood Ave. interchange to move the left exit to the right so it flys over I-35, And add ramps to connect the Rock Creek Road and SW 34th ST. bridges to add access to I-35 from these roads.

A lot of these projects are under a single study, but will likely be constructed individually and in phases. Any additional lanes to I 35 won’t come anytime soon. That is a big selling point that ODOT and the OTA Want to use to claim that there is no more additional room to add lanes so they can get the Kickapoo turnpike fully built from a southern extension and in the future possibly around Northeast Edmond. Some of these things are going to happen near future and others are pretty far out.

But lots of exciting stuff as planned in this area. Also remember, the commuter rail is another piece of infrastructure planned for this corridor.

For This

https://www.accessoklahoma.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WksA55t6f9o

If we get a Buc-ees and IKEA Oklahoma would finally be in the big leagues.

Saving this post for future reference.

I remember the same thing being said on okctalk about Dave and Busters.

And PF Changs, and Cheesecake Factory, and Capital Grille, and Omni, and Container Store, and REI...and...and...

LOL. I assumed FighttheGoodFight wrote this as a tongue-in-cheek joke. After all nothing says "big leagues" like an oversized gas station whose facilities are currently found in small towns in Alabama, Kentucky etc.

I might be the only one here that didn't know this, but the old Buc-ee's didn't used to be nearly as big as the newer ones. Here is the first one in Lake Jackson, TX...

19072

Not sure when they decided to go mega Wal-Mart meets QT on Roids, but it's interesting to see where it started.

I might be the only one here that didn't know this, but the old Buc-ee's didn't used to be nearly as big as the newer ones. Here is the first one in Lake Jackson, TX...

19072

Not sure when they decided to go mega Wal-Mart meets QT on Roids, but it's interesting to see where it started.

Pretty sure this was mentioned somewhere in this thread. I'm just guessing here but I think it's only been about 10 years that they've been building big.

It worked out well for them. Oncue is popular and its the biggest non-truck stop in OKC.

Signs are up saying land for Sale December at the corner of I-40 and Council. South of I-40. Anyone know how big of land is for sale? That intersection is a mess though

We just stopped at the Buc-ees in springfield mo for our first time ever in a Buc-ees. I understand the hype now. The Chopped brisket sandwich was really good.

Sorry for anyone looking at this hoping for an update, I don't have one...

What I do have is a question for the board: When Buc-ee's decides to build in a new location, we know it is going to be busy and lots of off and on traffic. Does the city pay for the upgraded ingress/egress for the store? I assume that is worked into the deal to purchase land and other incentives? Maybe ODOT would be responsible if it is off a federal highway? I feel like the location in Denton used to be a small two-lane frontage road and now it is four lanes at the intersection.

It's bizarre to me how Buc-ees almost seems to be going out of their way NOT to place a store anywhere in Oklahoma. They've got locations, or are in process of building stores, in just about every state surrounding us. The owners are either Longhorn fans (joking) or maybe feel a conflict since Love's and QT are headquartered here. Either way, doesn't make a lot of sense.

It's bizarre to me how Buc-ees almost seems to be going out of their way NOT to place a store anywhere in Oklahoma. They've got locations, or are in process of building stores, in just about every state surrounding us. The owners are either Longhorn fans (joking) or maybe feel a conflict since Love's and QT are headquartered here. Either way, doesn't make a lot of sense.

They are TAMU people.

It's bizarre to me how Buc-ees almost seems to be going out of their way NOT to place a store anywhere in Oklahoma. They've got locations, or are in process of building stores, in just about every state surrounding us. The owners are either Longhorn fans (joking) or maybe feel a conflict since Love's and QT are headquartered here. Either way, doesn't make a lot of sense.

I think it may just come down to geography and distribution. There are two in DFW on the north side (Forth Worth I35W and Denton I35E), one opening soon in Amarillo and one that recently opened in Springfield, Missouri. With the one in Springfield it gives hope that distribution from Texas to Missouri would go through Oklahoma, making sense to open a store along I-44 or I-35.

I also don't know who Buc-ee's attracts to their stores as their core customer? They have such a unique model, they really don't compete with Love's (Semi-truck traffic) or the majority of QT (corner C-stores in suburban areas) .

Is Buc-ee's core customer a family or couples on road trips/vacations or is it a large base of local customers who go there daily or weekly for gas and snacks?

I also hope Buc-ee's isn't over saturating the market, making the experience less unique. If there was one in south Norman or west OKC, I doubt I would stop at the ones in north Texas as frequently when traveling down I-35, if there was one in my backyard.

It's bizarre to me how Buc-ees almost seems to be going out of their way NOT to place a store anywhere in Oklahoma. They've got locations, or are in process of building stores, in just about every state surrounding us. The owners are either Longhorn fans (joking) or maybe feel a conflict since Love's and QT are headquartered here. Either way, doesn't make a lot of sense.

I spoke with some very credible folks about it last week, and they assured me that “we’ve got next” with respect to Buc-eee’s. It’s definitely happening.

I spoke with some very credible folks about it last week, and they assured me that “we’ve got next” with respect to Buc-eee’s. It’s definitely happening.
Which part of the state?

If I was Goldsby/Riverwind area I would be giving away free land for the Bucees. It seems like a great spot that would capture i35 north and south plus vast areas of land. That or north i35 above Edmond to Guthrie.

They are TAMU people.

Yes. The guy flies his private jet down to the games and is really weird/interesting from what I’ve heard lol.

If I was Goldsby/Riverwind area I would be giving away free land for the Bucees. It seems like a great spot that would capture i35 north and south plus vast areas of land. That or north i35 above Edmond to Guthrie.

Yeah that spot I referenced earlier near one of the golds by exits would be damn near ideal.

My money is on the west side of the metro between El Reno & Yukon.

There is significantly more traffic on I-40 on the edges of OKC than I-35.

My money is on the west side of the metro between El Reno & Yukon.

Either NW or SW corner of Banner Rd, or Vandament and Frisco. (OnCue already owns 23rd and Frisco)

My money is on the west side of the metro between El Reno & Yukon.

yeah, that looks more feasible than somewhere between Tinker AFB and Shawnee.

There is significantly more traffic on I-40 on the edges of OKC than I-35.

Though I could also see traffic on I-35 around Norman/Moore probably having higher percentage of Texans who frequent stores in their area, so higher chance would stop than average traffic along the other interstates/turnpikes around the metro's edges.

There's a whole lot of over the road trucks that I see going south on I-44 to west on I-40 24 hours a day.

As I've mentioned, the amount of truck traffic from the Port of Los Angeles (by far the biggest entrance point for zillions of products from Asia) east on I-40 is staggering.

Think about all the huge big-box stores across the U.S. then consider almost all their merchandise comes from Asia. Same with all those massive Amazon warehouses.

I've driven from L.A. to OKC several times and it's just wall-to-wall semi trucks the entire way. I-40 is by far the easiest way for all these goods to get to the rest of the country, at least until the trucks get to OKC and start branching off in different directions. A Buc-ee's somewhere near El Reno would catch all that traffic before it splits.

And while there is a Buc-ee's off I-35 in Denton, there doesn't appear to be any locations along I-40.

^

Pete - While there may be wall-to-wall semi trucks on I-40, these semi-trucks are not allowed at Buc-ee's. Also, a Buc-ee's is opening in Amarillo in February 2025.

As I've mentioned, the amount of truck traffic from the Port of Los Angeles (by far the biggest entrance point for zillions of products from Asia) east on I-40 is staggering.

Think about all the huge big-box stores across the U.S. then consider almost all their merchandise comes from Asia. Same with all those massive Amazon warehouses.

I've driven from L.A. to OKC several times and it's just wall-to-wall semi trucks the entire way. I-40 is by far the easiest way for all these goods to get to the rest of the country, at least until the trucks get to OKC and start branching off in different directions. A Buc-cee's somewhere near El Reno would catch all that traffic before it splits off.

And while there is a Buc-cee's off I-35 in Denton, there doesn't appear to be any anywhere along I-40.

I would even say that extends past Oklahoma City to Memphis on I-40. I’m not saying a ton of it doesn’t split off in Oklahoma City, obviously the city isn’t considered the most literal crossroads of America for nothing, (confused gaze at Indiana) with I-35 going to Kansas City, Minneapolis, and points in between, and I-44 going to St. Louis and by extension Chicago via I-55, but there is an insane amount of truck traffic going towards Memphis, especially after Little Rock, so much so that when we go to visit family in Mississippi, we get off in Brinkley, AR and take US-49 into Mississippi because that’s significantly faster than trying to get through Memphis. My cousin lives in Tunica, MS, so that’s a natural starting point before going further into the state to visit other family members, but we have to backtrack (sorta) after crossing the Mississippi River at Helena, AR before taking US-61 north and it ends up being almost an hour quicker.

That has more to do with Arkansas than Oklahoma, but just wanted to mention how notorious I-40 is from Little Rock to Memphis. It’s not nearly as bad between Oklahoma City and Little Rock, but it’s not nothing either, not that anyone said it was.

I spoke with some very credible folks about it last week, and they assured me that “we’ve got next” with respect to Buc-eee’s. It’s definitely happening.

To add to this - when a manager at the new Springfield location learned I was from OKC, he mentioned that we should have one within the next year or two... for whatever that's worth lol.

That was my first time experiencing Buc-ees and... they're pretty ridiculous! The BBQ is pretty dang good, their cinnamon rolls are incredible, their kolaches are spot on, the fudge is out of this world... they even have a pay-by-weight beef jerky counter (delicious jerky, btw)! The only thing I've tried that I didn't like were their scrambled eggs for their breakfast items... the one time I got to try them, the eggs weren't set to my liking - they were too wet like someone added a lot of milk to the eggs before scrambling. They also have a ridiculous amount of touristy-type merchandise. Dang good prices on fuel tho - I suspect they're selling either at cost or just over. All in all, I wouldn't go out of my way to go to Buc-ees... but they're worth a stop if they're along your route - and I do hope we get one somewhere around here soon.

To add to this - when a manager at the new Springfield location learned I was from OKC, he mentioned that we should have one within the next year or two... for whatever that's worth lol.

That was my first time experiencing Buc-ees and... they're pretty ridiculous! The BBQ is pretty dang good, their cinnamon rolls are incredible, their kolaches are spot on, the fudge is out of this world... they even have a pay-by-weight beef jerky counter (delicious jerky, btw)! The only thing I've tried that I didn't like were their scrambled eggs for their breakfast items... the one time I got to try them, the eggs weren't set to my liking - they were too wet like someone added a lot of milk to the eggs before scrambling. They also have a ridiculous amount of touristy-type merchandise. Dang good prices on fuel tho - I suspect they're selling either at cost or just over. All in all, I wouldn't go out of my way to go to Buc-ees... but they're worth a stop if they're along your route - and I do hope we get one somewhere around here soon.

C'mon, you didn't try Beaver Nuggets (a.k.a. Texas Crack)? Pretty addictive.

yeah, that looks more feasible than somewhere between Tinker AFB and Shawnee.

I-40 & Harrah Road would probably work, might have to upgrade that interchange though.

I-40 & Harrah Road would probably work, might have to upgrade that interchange though.

I'm thinking in the area of I-40 and the Kickapoo Turnpike.

I wouldn't be surprised if they built one between Yukon and Oklahoma City. This is a fast growing area, with good traffic, and adequate room for the development. There is a plot of land right across from the Outlet Mall on the southside of I-40 that would be a perfect location.

C'mon, you didn't try Beaver Nuggets (a.k.a. Texas Crack)? Pretty addictive.

Eh. They're corn pops, but toffee covered. They're good but not like crack lmao. TBH, I'd rather have toffee popcorn instead.

Might sound weird, but try 'em as cereal with milk sometime, it works surprisingly well.

I stopped at Buc-ees several years ago outside of Austin. It was when the store was new and I think there were only two other cars there. I really don't get the excitement about a potential store.

I stopped at Buc-ees several years ago outside of Austin. It was when the store was new and I think there were only two other cars there. I really don't get the excitement about a potential store.

The bathrooms are clean and the food is good so its a good place for a quick stop during a road trip. What keeps me from stopping there is the crowds which would be improved by having more stores and some of the novelty of wearing off.

When we're traveling, we love stopping in and using the facilities and stocking up on some road treats and drinks. Honestly, if we got one here locally we wouldn't likely go much. I wouldn't think it would be a regular destination spot for locals, however I could be wrong.