October is National Cooperative Month, a time to celebrate you — the members of Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative. The cooperative’s employees are driven by service to the community, and members are at the heart of everything Bluebonnet does. 

The cooperative doesn’t just deliver safe, reliable and affordable electricity. It is committed to providing excellent service to its members, around the clock. 

As a Bluebonnet member, you are not just a customer — you are an owner. Members decide who governs the co-op and they receive a share of annual profits through capital credits. They belong to an organization that is deeply involved in the communities it serves, because we live here, too.

This month and every month, we are proud to have you as a member of Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative. 

Everything is bigger in Texas, especially this 75,593-square-foot convenience store with the iconic beaver brand

By Melissa Segrest l  Photos by Laura Skelding

It is just past 5:30 a.m. on June 10, and 120 Buc-ee’s employees are gathered for a pep talk in the center of the chain’s newest store in Luling. The grand opening is about to begin, and Josh Smith, the company’s director of operations, is pumping everyone up — “Are y’all excited, or what?” Workers answer with a chorus of whoops and cheers.    

About 10 minutes later, the doors of this brightly lit store slide open to visitors for the very first time, and a crowd of smiling shoppers streams across the threshold of this dream come true for Buc-ee’s fans. 

This Luling store is not just the newest Buc-ee’s — it is the largest convenience store on the planet, according to both Buc-ee’s and the National Association of Convenience Stores.

At 75,593 square feet, about 1.7 acres, the “travel center” is bigger than a football field and could hold 25 standard-sized convenience stores. The Luling store’s debut demotes the 74,000-square-foot Buc-ee’s in Sevierville, Tenn., to second place on the global list. It’s fitting that the title returns to Texas, since the Tennessee store had wrested it from the 66,000-square-foot Buc-ee’s on Interstate 35 in New Braunfels in 2023.

Visiting this newest mega-Buc-ee’s, at 10070 I-10, is an experience. 

Eventually, the location will boast 120 fuel pumps — as soon as the previous Buc-ee’s next door, which was 35,000 square feet, makes way for more pumps and parking. As of late July, there were 96 fuel pumps under a tall canopy stretching east to west, with an additional 24 coming soon. 

Inside the mammoth store, visitors can browse an array of thousands of fresh and prepackaged foods; dozens of drink stations; a big, colorful home goods and décor area; shelves and racks of clothing and outdoors items emblazoned with the Buc-ee’s beaver logo; and an eye-popping assortment of other goodies you never knew you needed. Signs direct customers to the “cleanest restrooms in America.” An employee in a Buc-ee the Beaver mascot costume will pose for selfies with anyone who asks.

The shelves are always stocked. The aromas of fresh chopped brisket and pulled pork, roasted nuts, just-baked kolaches and fudge fill the air. There will be 200 employees at the Luling store, ensuring someone is always nearby to answer questions. Bags of sweet, crunchy Beaver Nuggets — the store’s eponymous, best-selling snack — can be found around almost every corner. 

This Buc-ee’s is a dizzying mash-up of a modern-day mercantile, food festival, snack pantry and gas station on steroids — all with a sprinkling of Disneyland-style magic. 

The restrooms are indeed impressive. Spaces are plentiful and pristine. Women can choose from 34 roomy stalls, with tall privacy doors and a light above each that glows green or red to signal its availability. Men’s facilities have 19 urinals and 17 toilet stalls. Round-the-clock cleaning teams maintain a low profile. Visitors may not see these workers, but they can take note of their efforts: No specks of paper litter the floor, no puddles of water stand by the sinks, and no trash cans overflow.

This attention to detail has made the Buc-ee’s chain one of the rare businesses that have crossed from simple convenience-store commerce to cultural phenomenon, a “destination” must-stop for multitudes of highway drivers.

A simple formula has fueled Buc-ee’s success: clean restrooms, friendly employees and inexpensive gas at lots of pumps. The company’s success has grown thanks to word of mouth, fans’ social media posts, enthusiastic news accounts and witty billboards that strategically dot highways leading to the stores.

Going big underpins the Buc-ee’s business philosophy. And, of course, bigger is best in Texas.

The Buc-ee’s story

In 1982, Arch “Beaver” Aplin III opened the first Buc-ee’s location at a crossroads near Lake Jackson and Clute, 60 miles south of Houston and 10 miles from the Gulf Coast. 

The idea for the smiling Buc-ee the Beaver mascot, it has been widely stated, sprang from an Aplin childhood nickname — “Bucky Beaver” (the cartoon mascot of a toothpaste brand), a beloved dog named Buck and the nearby Brazoswood High School Buccaneers. 

The privately held company remains headquartered in Lake Jackson. The early Buc-ee’s stores, many of which are still in operation, were not jumbo-sized.

That changed with the opening of the original Luling Buc-ee’s in 2003, the chain’s first large-format travel center. The biggest Buc-ee’s are typically found off major highways, midway between large cities, to attract drivers making multihour trips. 

As of late July, Buc-ee’s boasted 35 locations in Texas and 15 in other states. Groundbreaking has happened or is scheduled for five more locations, including one in Amarillo. News reports indicate more travel centers are planned for other states, plus at least two more in Texas — in Boerne and San Marcos. 

The pace of Buc-ee’s growth shows no signs of slowing. 

The Luling Buc-ee’s gets its electricity from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative. It opened 19 months after breaking ground. There are other Buc-ee’s in or planned for the Bluebonnet region. Store #16 in Giddings, one of the chain’s smaller stops, opened in 2000. A 56,000-square-foot travel center opened in Bastrop in 2012. Earlier this year, the San Marcos City Council approved plans for a 74,000-square-foot Buc-ee’s that promises at least 175 full-time jobs, according to multiple news reports. It will be built on the southbound I-35 frontage road, just south of Yarrington Road. 

A few miles to the south, also on I-35, is the New Braunfels Buc-ee’s, which opened in 2012 as the world’s largest convenience store. 

Luling was an optimal site for the massive expansion, because the store store was the original “travel center” in the chain. But it became frequently crowded and fuel pumps were often occupied, even after it underwent two expansions over the years, according to an executive at the grand opening. 

“It just didn’t feel right to build the biggest Buc-ee’s anywhere other than Luling," Aplin said. "As I like to say, when things are going really well, we’re just getting started. It’ll be a lot of fun to bring the biggest convenience store in the world back to Texas.”

An economic boost 
for growing Luling

The Luling Buc-ee’s is well situated on I-10, 141 miles from Houston, 58 miles from San Antonio and 50 miles down U.S. 183 from Austin. It is expected to have a significant impact on employment and economic growth in Luling, with a population of 5,754 in 2023. Caldwell County is anticipated to experience similar benefits. 

With at least 200 employees, it would be Luling’s largest employer as of June, according to city officials. Many of the employees from the older Luling store work at the new Buc-ee’s. The chain touts full-time jobs with good pay, career-advancement opportunities, 401(k) retirement plans that match up to 6% of employees’ contributions, three weeks of paid time off and health benefits. A sign above the store’s front doors lists pay: Entry-level workers earn $18 to $21 an hour, well above minimum wage. Department managers can make up to $33 an hour, assistant general managers $125,000 and above annually, and general managers $225,000 and higher.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who attended the travel center’s ribbon-cutting on opening day, said the Luling store is a $40 million investment that adds to Texas’ booming business economy. “This Buc-ee’s is the key to the future of Luling,” Abbott said. “Buc-ee’s is just one important piece of the economy of the bigger, better Texas we are building for generations to come.” 

Luling Mayor CJ Watts said the travel center gives the city a big economic boost. Between Buc-ee’s and several other fast-growing businesses there, new residential developments with hundreds of homes are planned, according to Watts and City Manager Mark Mayo. 

Both the City of Luling and Caldwell County offered sales tax incentives to help secure the new Buc-ee’s.  City officials and staff worked closely with company leaders, including Aplin, to make the record-breaking facility a reality.

“We wanted to make sure that we did our part,” said Caldwell County Judge Hoppy Haden, who worked closely with Luling officials. “Buc-ee’s is one of the biggest employers in our county, and they really take good care of their employees,” he said. “Somebody with a high school education ... can get a job there and make a living wage, grow within the company and have a chance to be a manager someday. It’s a career path.”

Visitors to Buc-ee’s will benefit Luling, its school district and Caldwell County — not only from sales and property taxes, but also from added spending in the community. “It’s really put the name Luling on the map in a very big way,” Mayo said. “People are calling from all over the place.” 

The 150-year-old town, originally fueled by booming oil and gas production — and still known for its annual Watermelon Thump — is gaining new momentum with more retail, manufacturing and potential warehousing businesses, said Trey Bailey, the executive director of Luling’s economic development corporation. 

The Buc-ee’s phenomenon

On opening day, a cheery, Randy Pauly, the talkative official “pitmaster” and director of barbecue for Buc-ee’s, made the rounds with members of the media, curious customers and employees working behind the Texas Round Up barbecue station near the center of the store. He travels to each new Buc-ee’s, teaching the fine art of preparing chopped brisket, and other skills, to employees. Pauly, who said he is a former professional barbecue competitor, is a polished pitchman.

Watching a first-time visitor enter a very large Buc-ee’s can be interesting. It’s “that moment, that ‘wow’ when they walk through that door,” said Richard Barkley, Buc-ee’s regional director of operations, at the grand opening.  “It’s a reminder that all the work that goes into creating a store like Luling’s Buc-ee’s is worth it.”

Opening day started very early for Patrick O’Donnell from Pennsylvania, who was first in line when the doors opened. He had arrived the night before, he said. 

“My first visit to a Buc-ee’s was in 2007 in Madisonville,” about 100 miles northwest of Houston, he said. Since then, he added proudly, he has visited every one of the company’s locations. “This is my first grand opening, though,” he said. Many hours later, after the dignitaries had departed, a tired O’Donnell was still there. “I’m looking forward to the next one already,” he said. “But I’ll take some time to savor this.”

Download the story as it originally appeared in Texas Co-op Power magazine »

From a ghost town to golf, venture off the highway to enjoy growing town’s top stops

By Melissa Segrest

Along busy U.S. 290, 12 miles northeast of Austin, the ever-multiplying home and apartment rooftops of Manor may give the impression this town is a new commuter community. But Manor —  pronounced “MAY-ner” — has a rich 152-year history. It was named for James B. Manor, who settled on Gilleland Creek west of today’s downtown in the mid-1830s. In 1871, he deeded 200 acres to the Houston and Texas Central Railway line, making Manor a train stop on the way to Texas’ capital.

The town’s population grew from the mid-1880s through the 1920s, but the Great Depression slowed growth. Today, Manor is booming again: Thousands of houses have been built in the last two decades — most more affordable than those in pricier Austin — making Manor one of the nation’s fastest-growing suburbs. In 2000, the city had 1,204 residents; by 2020, including two large nearby subdivisions, that number had grown to 25,625.

Manor is expanding and adding community events to provide more family-friendly activities. New to the schedule are free spring and summer movie nights in Timmermann Park, 12616 Skimmer Run. The last scheduled movie this year is on Aug. 9. The annual Holidays in the Park will be Dec. 7. Also noteworthy: an annual Easter Egg Helicopter Drop, the ManorPalooza citywide celebration every May and a Fourth of July event with fireworks.

Designated a Film Friendly Community in Texas, Manor has been the setting for numerous movies and TV series, including the hit ’90s movie “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” with young actors Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio. The city’s iconic 1935 water tower stands in the background of some scenes.

WHAT TO DO

Crowe’s Nest Farm, 10300 Taylor Lane, is a popular educational working farm and wildlife rescue sanctuary that’s been operating for 41 years. Every year about 40,000 children, most part of school groups, visit the farm, but families and individuals are welcome, too. Tours feature exhibits, demonstrations (including cow-milking), a hayride to visit a bison herd, and self-guided exploration to see farm animals and Texas wildlife. Open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, from October to mid-December and again March through July (weather permitting). Crowe’s Nest hosts a Spring Festival in April and a Fall Festival every Saturday-Sunday in October with additional events, including vendors and live music. Regular admission is $8 for students, $9 for adults and $8 for seniors. Group tours (reservations required) and memberships are available; private events can be booked for a fee. Get more information at crowesnestfarm.org, its Facebook page or 512-272-4418.

Halloween is just around the corner, and so is the J. Lorraine Ghost Town, 14219 Littig Road. It’s a spooky 5-acre destination of 28 abandoned-looking, Old West-style buildings. Features at the indoor/outdoor venue include a giant wooden-fence maze, two-story outdoor movie screen and a bar and grill. Children are welcome but must be supervised. The town is reserved every October for Scare for a Cure, a giant interactive haunt for ages 13 and older that raises funds for the Breast Cancer Resource Center and other area charities. Get information at scareforacure.org. The ghost town is open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday year-round (unless booked for a private event). Check its Facebook page, call 512-922-2683 or go to ghosttownaustin.com before visiting.

ShadowGlen Golf Club, 12801 Lexington St., is an 18-hole course that is open to the public as well as club members. Golfers can take lessons; use putting and chipping greens plus a driving range; and visit the clubhouse with a pro shop, bar and grill overlooking the ninth hole. There’s also a golf cart drive-through mini bar at the ninth-hole green. The course is open daily, sunrise to sunset, except for Christmas. It costs $99 to play the course on a weekend. Prices drop to $55 for twilight rounds (play after 1 p.m.), seniors and military veterans Monday-Thursday. Individuals 17 and younger pay less to play, also. Get information at shadowglengolf.com or call 512-278-1304.

GRAB A BITE

Dining options ranked among Tripadvisor’s top restaurants include:

Café 290, 11011 U.S. 290 E., a fixture in Manor since 1947, is partially housed in a World War II-era Army barracks. It offers a large selection of American and regional foods, including numerous breakfast options. 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday; cafe290.com, 512-278-8780.

The Good Luck Grill, 14605 FM 973 N., offers casual dining with an extensive menu of all-American and Texas favorites. Customer favorites include the catfish, fried chicken sandwich and three-layer chocolate Jackpot Pie. There’s indoor and outdoor seating on a covered patio, and kids have plenty of room to play outdoors. 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. daily; goodluckgrill.com, 512-272-8777.

Casa Garcia’s, 12700 Lexington St., Suite 100; has traditional Tex-Mex and familiar Mexican dishes including taco plates, enchiladas, fajitas and a large breakfast menu. 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday; casagarcias.com, 737-600-8171.

TIPS FROM LOCALS

Parks worth visiting include Timmermann Park, 12616 Skimmer Run, according to the city’s tourism manager, Yalondra Valderrama Santana. It has a playscape, eight picnic tables under a covered pavilion, a winding walking path, and a fishing dock and pond. For a bigger park space, several Manor residents recommend Travis County’s 273-acre East Metropolitan Park, 18706 Blake Manor Road. It has a disc golf course, basketball court, fishing ponds, multiuse fields, a pool in summer and more; info at parks.traviscountytx.gov/parks/east-metro.

Sources: Yalondra Valderrama Santana, Manor heritage and tourism manager; cityofmanor.org; Texas State Handbook Online; Historical Marker Database; Manor Chamber of Commerce website; Manor Historical Society Facebook page; Austin’s Eastern Frontier series, KUT.org; Tripadvisor.com; Kirk Lohmann, ShadowGlen Golf Club general manager; David Williams, Crowe’s Nest Farm executive director; Melanie Boston of J. Lorraine Ghost Town.

At a competition packed with skilled lineworkers from across the state, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative teams secured spots to compete among the most elite lineworkers across the country at the International Lineman’s Rodeo in October. 

Nine apprentice lineworkers, four three-man journeymen teams, four barbecue pitmasters and ten staff judges joined hundreds of colleagues from across the state at Nolte Island Park near Seguin for the 28th Texas Lineman’s Rodeo on July 20.

The rodeo began at 6:30 a.m. to help ensure most events were completed before the midday summer heat. During the competition, lineworkers raced against time to climb and competitively work on unenergized power lines. They also performed tasks including replacing equipment and wiring transformers. Apprentice lineworkers tested their knowledge on a written exam.  

While the competition was underway, lineworkers were cheered on by family, friends, coworkers and employees from other city and cooperative electric utilities.

Bluebonnet ended the day victorious. Michael Guajardo, Brandon Johnson and Kenneth Roush won first place for the second year in a row in the senior journeymen team division for lineworkers 45 and older. 

“The keys to our success were our teamwork and communication,” Guajardo said. “Talking through ideas, problem-solving and understanding each other’s roles are vital for working toward a common goal.”

Colton Burch, an apprentice lineworker, received two second-place awards: as apprentice lineworker and in the written exam. “It was real when they called my name,” he said. 

Journeymen lineworker team Kyle Kasper, Logan Lancaster and Andrew Murphy demonstrated speed and safety skills to place fourth in the pole climb event. To sweeten the deal, Zachary Handrick, Huston Burgess and Bryan Woods won fourth place for their brisket in the barbecue cook-off.

The biggest takeaway for first-time competitor Burch was the support he received from his family, coworkers and all the guys that compete, he said. 

“We practice specifically for the rodeo for a handful of days, but in reality, we practice every day when we’re working on restoring power for our members,” Burch said.

Troy Moore, one of Bluebonnet’s rodeo team coaches and a Bluebonnet line crew supervisor in Bastrop, spoke about pride in how the lineworkers performed, adding that the rodeo gives apprentices and journeymen a chance to practice their skills, test their knowledge and build camaraderie. 

“It’s about building confidence and fostering teamwork, qualities that are crucial in our daily work providing reliable power to our community,” Moore said. 

The 2024 rodeo team members were Reid Hanna, Nick Steuermann, Tucker Saegert, Justin Lewis, Colton Burch, J.D. Boecker, Lane Magnuson, Cooper Lucherk, Trevor Williams, Michael Guajardo, Kenneth Roush, Brandon Johnson, Kyle Kasper, Logan Lancaster, Andrew Murphy, John Courtney, Brad Young, Parker Redwine, Ty Duesterheft, John Zamora and Joe Lockhart. Coaches were Daniel Fritsche, Danny Bolding, Troy Moore and Chris Rivera. 

Founded in 1996 and hosted by the Texas Lineman’s Rodeo Association, the rodeo events are designed to mirror the challenges lineworkers across the state encounter daily while working to provide reliable power to more than 30 million Texas residents.