Renewables, solar take center stage at Energy Expo

By Connie Juarez

Randy Humphrey of Elgin, a Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative member, installed solar panels on a shed at his home last year. The system is capable of generating 11.89 kW of electricity. He wanted to lower his electricity costs and was pleased with the results.

He wanted to share his experience and offer some advice. “Do your research. Know that it still costs you money, but you can control your costs of electricity now and in the future,” Humphrey said.

Humphrey was at the cooperative’s Energy Expo event Oct. 19 to talk to guests. He was joined by Charles Brading and Jeffery Geuea, both Bluebonnet members from Bastrop, who spoke to others about having solar panel systems installed at their homes, the benefits and potential challenges. 

Nearly 60 Bluebonnet members and guests — all ready to learn about the latest in residential solar systems, battery energy storage and electric vehicles — attended the event at the cooperative’s headquarters in Bastrop. It was the ninth time the cooperative has hosted the event.

Speakers, information sessions, displays and Bluebonnet employees provided information about renewable energy systems and answered attendees’ questions. 

Members Diana and Loren McGuire, who plan to move from Austin and build a home in Caldwell County, attended the Energy Expo to gain insight into adding a solar system into the early stages of home construction. “We didn't know much about solar energy at Bluebonnet and wanted to understand it better,” Diana McGuire said. 

Her biggest takeaway was how to get an accurate comparison when considering different installer proposals, she said.   

The program began with presentations by representatives of the Texas Solar Energy Society on the fundamentals of home solar energy systems. The society also hosted solar and battery-system vendors to answer visitors’ questions on site. The Texas Solar Energy Society is a statewide nonprofit organization committed to advancing solar energy in Texas. 

Throughout the three-hour event, Bluebonnet employees explained the specifics of connecting energy systems, ways to monitor electricity consumption and how to track excess power generated by a solar system that is returned to the electric grid.

Currently, about 3,500 Bluebonnet members use solar energy systems — approximately 15% more than last year. “This really shows how much interest there is in alternative energy in the area,” said Bluebonnet member service supervisor Erica Contreras, who helped plan the event. 

“We were really pleased with the turnout,” she said. “It was great to see so many of our members engaged and excited about renewable energy.”

 

Story by Pam LeBlanc

Photos by Sarah Beal  

I probably look goofy. 

I’m holding what looks like a pingpong paddle, standing on what looks like a miniature tennis court and attempting to whack what looks and feels like a Wiffle ball. Pickleball mania has taken over the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative region, and I’m determined to find out why.

Here in the air-conditioned comfort of Lost Pines Pickleball Club in Bastrop, a few pickleball enthusiasts are showing me the finer points of the fastest-growing sport in America for three years in a row, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.

Unfortunately, after about 30 minutes of thwacking, I lower my paddle and admit defeat. My partner and I have been officially “pickled,” meaning we’ve lost the match, 11-0. I’d like to blame the brace on my knee for the less-than-gold-medal performance — I’m recovering from ACL surgery — but I think it’s more about my lack of skills. This mashup of tennis, badminton and pingpong might look simple, but to become top pickle, players need practice.

The game traces its origin to 1965, according to USA Pickleball. That’s when Joel Pritchard and some friends were looking for a way to entertain their families. Pritchard, who had been a member of Congress from Washington state, had an old badminton court, but not enough rackets to go around. So the group gathered up a few pingpong paddles, found a Wiffle ball and strung up a net.

There’s nothing remotely picklelike in the sport, so the source of the name is hotly debated. Some say the plastic ball used in those first games belonged to Pritchard’s dog, Pickles, who would chase and occasionally abscond with the ball. Others say the name came from the term “pickle boat,” which refers to a crew of randomly selected rowers in a race.

Regardless, after a while, pickleball got popular. The U.S. Amateur Pickleball Association was formed in 1984, and by 1990 people in all 50 states were playing. Pickleball's popularity exploded during the coronavirus pandemic. People could play outdoors, stay socially distant, get some exercise and have much-needed social interaction. Play increased by more than 223% in the last three years.

Today an estimated 36.5 million Americans – some say that number is low — play pickleball, and more than 50,000 courts are located across the U.S., according to 2023 statistics from the Association of Pickleball Players. The organization had 78,766 members and sanctioned 195 tournaments last year, including the national championships held in Farmers Branch, Texas.

Pickleball is booming in Texas, with more than 3,500 individual courts at more than 850 locations, according to Pickleheads, an online site dedicated to the sport. That doesn’t include private courts, or spur-of-the-moment setups on basketball and tennis courts, or any asphalt or concrete surface with the required 20-by-44-foot space.

The easy-to-play but nuanced game has spread beyond cities and moved into rural communities, including those in the Bluebonnet region. Courts, clubs, leagues and pickup games are scattered across the cooperative’s 3,800-square-mile service area.

Today’s session at Lost Pines wasn’t my first attempt at pickleball. My husband and I picked up a pair of beginners’ paddles, met some pickleball-playing friends, set up a portable net on a basketball court and practiced hitting balls earlier this year. Sports that require serious hand-eye coordination are not my thing, but a little time spent smacking that airy ball around gave me confidence: I can do this.

That led me to Lost Pines Pickleball, 1099 State Highway 71 in Bastrop, for some training. The facility, which opened in November 2023, is one of the largest in the region with 13 courts — nine in an air-conditioned, indoor facility and four outdoors, lighted. Members play for $99 a month, and nonmembers pay $7 per person, per hour to play there.

Not far from Lost Pines, at 141 Tahitian Drive, another large facility — with 10 lighted outdoor courts — is run by the Bastrop Pickleball Association. Dues there are $20 a month, or $200 a year, but visitors are welcome to play a few times for free. The public can play at free clinics at 6 p.m. every Tuesday.

But most courts across the region are open to the public for little to no cost, including Fisherman’s Park, 1200 Willow St., and Bob Bryant Park, 600 Charles Blvd., in Bastrop.

Other residents of the region are playing pickleball from Brenham to Caldwell, Smithville to Bellville and lots of courts in between. See a list of Bluebonnet-area courts below.

Pickleball’s appeal goes beyond being simple: It is inexpensive and low-impact. At the recreational level, it’s a fun way to goof around with friends and family. A pair of inexpensive beginner wooden or fiberglass paddles that can cost less than $25 and a regular pair of sneakers are sufficient. The scoring throws some folks off, but our guide to the game on Page 20 can help.

At competitive levels, pickleball is fast-paced, requiring agility, dexterity and a bit of power. Get caught up in the sport, and it can get pricey: Pro-level paddles can cost more than $200, and even the balls can get fancy. I tried a $150 paddle made by Pickleball Apes, and it was lighter and more responsive than my cheap one.

Around the Bluebonnet service area, picklers, the nickname for those who adore the sport, are eager to spread the word.

Vicki Bruce of Brenham, a 69-year-old former physical education teacher, started playing about eight years ago, after her husband passed away and a friend suggested they try. Brenham didn’t have any public courts then, so the pair persuaded city officials to set up four courts using temporary nets on two old tennis courts. People started showing up. The city eventually marked off six pickleball courts and installed permanent nets at Jackson Street Park, 1300 S. Jackson St.

“Seniors are an underserved population when it comes to anything active,” Bruce said. “Before you knew it, we had 40 or 50 people playing. Now we have 190 people in our club.”

Pickleball, she says, offers something more than a fun game to play.

“We’ve had people who have had cancer, lost husbands, gone through divorce, and some who are just lonely,” she said. “I think it fills whatever need you’re looking for, whether it’s social, competitive or exercise. I didn’t realize all the benefits I was going to gain when I started, but these people are closer than family.”

Bruce Forester lives near Lockhart and started playing about eight years ago. He and his wife, Ann Forester, would drive to the San Marcos Activity Center’s indoor courts to play until Covid shut things down. In 2021, he and some other members of First Methodist Lockhart asked trustees if they could set up a pickleball court in the church’s activity center on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. They’ve been playing – and attracting others – ever since.

“A lot of it is social,” Forester said. “You’ll meet people you never knew, never thought you’d make friends with. Some are new to the game and are just now learning, while others are veterans who want to compete.”

You don’t have to be a super athlete to get something out of the game, said Lanell Beckles, who once coached tennis in Maine and now works as a fitness and pickleball coach. “It awakens the ability to enjoy sports for a lot of people who never played sports.”

Beckles discovered pickleball a few years ago when he saw some people playing at Fisherman’s Park in Bastrop. A player spotted him watching and suggested that he give it a try. “I made all the mistakes,” Beckles said. “I stepped into the ‘kitchen.’ But I needed a competitive sport I could play again.”

Beckles stuck with it, drawn by the camaraderie and the welcoming vibe. “Pickleball is so diverse. You can play with a beginner or a pro, and you’ll all get something out of it,” he said.

Back at Lost Pines Pickleball Club, after my defeat, I’ve plopped down on a chair. A TV on a nearby wall is streaming professional pickleball players in action, where balls fly, players pivot and things move so quickly I can hardly keep up. It’s a far cry from the mellow game I just finished.

“Watch what the pros do,” Beckles, the coach, told me. “That’s one way to get better.”

He recommends beginners take a lesson to familiarize themselves with the rules and to avoid developing bad habits. “Most people when they start say, ‘This game is easy and I can figure it out.’ But you don’t really understand it until you play with people who are better at it, and you understand the rules and nuances,” he said.

After a few hours of trying, I know he’s right. I’m motivated to get back out and learn some skills. It doesn’t matter if I look goofy, and I don’t need to play on a fancy indoor court.

This sport’s got at least one more new fan — me.

Pam LeBlanc writes about fitness, adventure and recreation in regional, state and national publications.

 

Where to play pickleball in the Bluebonnet region

• Bastrop Area Pickleball Association, 141 Tahitian Drive, Bastrop

• Fisherman’s Park, 600 Hill St., and Bob Bryant Park, 600 Charles Blvd, Bastrop

• Lost Pines Pickleball Club, 1099 Texas 71 W., Bastrop

• Bellville Pickleball Club, 59 S. Bell St., Bellville

• Jackson Street Park, 1300 S. Jackson St., Brenham

• John E. Hejl Park at Davidson Creek, 1105 Commerce St., Caldwell

• Dale Community Center, 47 Civic Drive, Dale

• Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N. Texas 95, Elgin

• Veterans Park, 118 E. Richmond St., Giddings

• West End Community Park, 725 Main St., Industry

• Pride High School gym annex, 419 Bois D'Arc St., Lockhart

• Frisch Auf! Valley Country Club, 575 Country Club Drive, La Grange

• First Methodist Lockhart activity center, 313 W. San Antonio St., Lockhart

• Rio Vista Courts, 555 Cheatham St., San Marcos; bit.ly/4crFall

• San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos

• Smithville Recreation Center, 106 Royston St., Smithville; bit.ly/3X5bfLf

 

On the courts

Josie Martinez, Martindale

When did you start playing? I started in September 2022, after retiring, following a friend's suggestion to try it for exercise.

How did you get hooked? Immediately. It was a lot of fun. The people I play with range from 50 to 90 years old.

Fun fact: I trained for two 5K races last year by playing pickleball and fetching balls. I placed first in one race and second in another in my age group.

Tip for beginners: You just have to get out there and try it.

Linda Gaas, Somerville area

How often do you play? I play pickleball at least four times a week and have traveled to Arkansas, Oklahoma and Alabama for pickleball tournaments with a friend. I’m the USA Pickleball ambassador for the Caldwell area.

Where do you play? Mainly at the public courts at Davidson Creek Park in Caldwell. Players gather at 7 or 8 a.m. daily for open play. I also travel to Brenham, Navasota, Bellville, Bryan/College Station and Bastrop to play.

In her spare time: I’m a retired accountant with five grandchildren. I love to spend time with them — if I’m not at a pickleball tournament. 

Tip for beginners: Don’t get frustrated and take your time. It’s a learning process.

Lanell Beckles, Bastrop

How did you get hooked? Coming from a tennis background, I found pickleball to be easier to pick up and more community-based. I’ve met a lot of people in pickleball, but I also found a sport I can excel at without tearing down my body. Easy to start, not easy to master. 

In his spare time: I’m a fitness trainer and pickleball coach. I also love riding my motorcycle, going to movies, and helping others with their social media content creation. I’m helping another company start a podcast and improve their brand recognition.

Tip for beginners: Watch a high-level pickleball match. When you see how that kind of game is being played, you’ll know what to strive for. You’ll get an idea of how to win points — and it’s not hitting the ball hard every chance you get. Also, play as much as possible.

Bruce Forester, Lockhart area

When did you start playing? About eight years ago. My brother-in-law introduced me to the game while on vacation. It was fun, and I saw the potential for me: I am a heart patient, and it was a good cardio workout.

Fun fact: I have the most fun when I’m playing with others who have the same skill level I have.

In his spare time: I enjoy nine-pin bowling.

Tip for beginners: Find a wall and bounce the ball off of it to build up your hand-eye coordination. It will also build your confidence. Don’t be shy — jump in feet first. 

Vicki Bruce, Brenham

When did you start playing? I learned about pickleball from my friend Helen, whom I met through a grief recovery group after we both lost our husbands. Helen heard about the game while visiting friends in Galveston about eight years ago. After her trip, we found someone to teach us how to play.

Why do you love it? It continues to amaze me how pickleball brings people together who would not normally be together. I play with people with a wide range of backgrounds, personalities and skill levels. But when we come to the pickleball court, it’s one big family.

Fun fact: I’ve probably got two dozen paddles. I have my favorite, a ProKennex, and I love that paddle because it’s gentle on my elbow and shoulder. I always go back to it.

Tip for beginners: Stay back and don’t rush the net.

Mike and Wanda Royce, Lexington

Where do you play? We play everywhere we go. We love the group in Brenham; we play at Fisherman’s Park in Bastrop on Thursday and Saturday mornings. We have a Tuesday morning group in Caldwell. We always take our pickleball bags with us wherever we go. We have met so many wonderful people through pickleball.

Fun fact: People ask us how many days a week we play. We say “all of them that end in a Y.”

Tip for beginners: Play as often as possible and try to play with people of all ability levels. Learn from advanced players and help teach the newbies.

Lisa Keesler, Brenham

When did you start playing? In March of 2014, a CBS News segment about a little-known sport called pickleball caught my attention. I ordered a paddle and a few balls and hit against the practice board at the tennis courts a few times.

How did you get hooked? On February 24, 2017 — the first day I played the game! I met Vicki Bruce at the courts along with two other players, and we laughed and had an amazing time. She was so encouraging. We have since become doubles partners, and have competed and won in many tournaments. As USA Pickleball and US Senior Pickleball Ambassadors in the region, our role is to promote the sport and share our love for the game with others.

Fun fact: My secret sauce is Dr Pepper! It’s what keeps me going. There's no water in my water bottle.

In her spare time: I'm a full-time office nurse in a busy practice. Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights are reserved for church. All other times are "game on!"

Tip for beginners: Take your time. It’s a fast-moving game. You have to think and react fast, but you’ve got more time than you know. Relax, slow down and see your shots. And have fun!  

 

HOW TO PLAY PICKLEBALL

The game

• Each rally begins with a serve — a player on the right side of the court serves from behind the baseline diagonally to opponent’s service area. The ball must land beyond the ‘kitchen.’ Serves are typically underhanded.
• The ball must bounce once on each side before it can be volleyed (hit in the air).
• A point is lost when ball is hit out of bounds or into the net, bounces twice on one side, cannot be returned or if a serve doesn’t go beyond the kitchen.
• When the ball is within the kitchen area near the net, it must bounce once before being returned. No volleys in the air if you are in the ‘kitchen.’
• You only win points on your or your teammate’s serve. You keep serving until you lose a point. Then your teammate serves. Then the other team’s players serve.

The gear

• Paddles: 2 to 4 wooden or composite paddles start at less than $25 and can go up to more than $300. Get one that is USAPA, or U.S.A Pickleball Approved. Paddles get pricier based on attributes like control vs. power, sweet-spot size, ability to generate spin and more.
• Balls: Pickleballs are made with different plastics, weights, hardness, number of holes, plus bounce and speed levels. Some are better for indoor play. A three-pack starter set is about $8.
• Regular sneakers, although any athletic shoes made for court play will do.
• Hat, sunscreen, water

The lingo

Bagel or pickled: Shutout game; in standard pickleball, an 11-0 finish

Dink shot: Soft shot that barely clears the net and plops into non-volley zone

Falafel: Short shot caused by hitting the ball with too little oomph

Kitchen: Non-volley zone, a 7-foot-deep section of court on either side of the net

Opa!: Sometimes shouted after third shot, when open volleying starts Pickle!: Warning shouted by server letting others know they are about to serve ​

Pickler: Pickleball enthusiast who can’t stop talking about the sport

Pukaball: Alternate name for pickleball, used primarily in Hawaii Volley

llama: Illegal move, when player hits a volley while in the kitchen ​

Can’t get enough? Tune in to pickleballtv.com for nonstop streaming pickleball action.

Sources: USA Pickleball, Sports & Fitness Industry Association, Association of Pickleball 
Professionals, pickleheads.com

Download this story from Bluebonnet's Texas Co-op Power magazine»

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 »