A new Buc-ee's in Kentucky could open this summer. Here's where you can find it

Buc-ee's, the giant gas station and convenience store chain known for its homemade brisket, clean bathrooms and friendly beaver mascot, is set to open its second Kentucky location this summer.

The new store in Smith's Grove, about 15 miles outside of Bowling Green, will be hard to miss when traveling on Interstate 65 heading toward Nashville.

Road trippers in the Bluegrass State may already be familiar with the Buc-ee's brand, as the Texas-based company has operated a store just off I-75 in Richmond since 2022.

Here's what we know about the new location:

When will Kentucky get its second Buc-ee's?

No official opening date has been posted yet, but the new store will likely open sometime during the summer of 2024, a Buc-ee's spokesperson said in an email. A sign posted outside the site of the new location said it would be "opening soon" as of Saturday.

How big will the new Buc-ee's be?

Construction at the Smith's Grove location began in June 2023. When completed, the new store will occupy 53,471 square feet, according to a press release. There will be reportedly be 120 fueling stations on site.

For comparison, Kentucky's other Buc-ee's location in Richmond is about the same size as the one set to open in Smith's Grove. The largest Buc-ee's in the United States, found in Sevierville, Tennessee, spans 74,500 square feet.

A Buc-ee's store planned for Ocala, Florida will set a new record for size, estimated to be 80,000 square feet, according to USA TODAY.

How long is Buc-ee's open?

All Buc-ee's locations are open 24 hours a day, according to the company's website.

Will another Buc-ee's open near me in the future?

A Buc-ee's planned for the Dayton, Ohio, suburb of Huber Heights is set to begin construction with a targeted opening for Winter 2025, The Columbus Dispatch reported in May 2024. The store would be the first Buc-ee's in Ohio. Huber Heights is about 160 miles from Louisville.

Here are some other locations Buc-ee's plans to open, according to the company's website.

• Amarillo, Texas — 2025
• Brunswick, Georgia — 2025
• Rockingham County, Virginia — 2026
• Boerne, Texas — 2026

Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@gannett.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter