Buc-ee’s (southeast of Interstate 80 & Highway 31) Gretna

Post by **nebugeater** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 5:41 am

Based on information from last night's Gretna City Council meeting, there are indications that Buc-ee's is building in Gretna as part of the Good Life District

https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/01/21 ... %80%94%20a

GRETNA, Nebraska — Gretna is poised to become home to Nebraska’s first Buc-ee’s travel center — a prospect city officials expect will kickstart further tourism development in the area’s once-conflicted “good life district.”

The path to landing what’s been described as “the Disney World of gas stations” was paved Tuesday night when the Gretna City Council gave initial approval to a request to annex about 43 acres southeast of Interstate 80 and Highway 31.

A Buc-ee’s in Athens, Alabama. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)
Testimony during the meeting confirmed that a 74,000-square-foot Buc-ee’s store with 100 gas pumps would be built upon that tract, if all goes as planned. To access incentive benefits associated with a state-designated good life district, the project must also be within the city limits........

locoluke · Post by **locoluke** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:10 am

Leaked rendering of the site:

Post by **Brad** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:12 am

Wow, 43 acres is going to chew up most of the empty lots on that corner!

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:21 am

Wowza! I hope it lives up to the hype! I know most Buc-ee's are massive but the scale really hits when it's local.

Post by **nebugeater** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:24 am

Brad wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:12 am Wow, 43 acres is going to chew up most of the empty lots on that corner!

I know trucks are not allowed at Buc-ee's but I wonder what the impact will be on Flying J across Hwy 31 would guess that it iwll become almost truck only

Post by **nebugeater** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:25 am

I posted this info on FB Omaha Food Lovers right after putting it here. Once the post was aproved it has taken off!

Post by **Brad** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:39 am

Here is a super quick and dirty but TO SCALE layout with the new Colorado Store placed on the Gretna site with the existing lot lines laid over it for context. FYI, the fuel canopy is just short of 1000 feet long!

GRETNA-B.jpg

djc311 · Post by **djc311** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:42 am

nebugeater wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:25 am I posted this info on FB Omaha Food Lovers right after putting it here. Once the post was aproved it has taken off!

Never been to one... guess I'll be surprised if/when it opens and I make a visit. Not sure I can get excited about a gas station, but apparently people do (for this particular chain).

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:43 am

I can remember all 2 times I've been to Nebraska Crossing, but I'd probably go out of my way to stop at Buc-ees once it opens.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:45 am

Brad wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:39 am Here is a super quick and dirty but TO SCALE layout with the new Colorado Store placed on the Gretna site with the existing lot lines laid over it for context. FYI, the fuel canopy is just short of 1000 feet long!

GRETNA-B.jpg

One thing I forgot to include in this post. A site this big will also require a nearly 2 acre pond for stormwater.

JDirte · Post by **JDirte** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:02 am

Very nice anchor. Will pull lots of traffic off the interstate. This area has so much potential. Hopefully they are smart on what they continue to develop.

I wonder if the proposals from last year are still continuing with Looks Markelace or some of the more ambitious proposals. I would imagine there wouldn’t be a Wally’s if Buc-ee’s is coming in:

https://growomaha.com/drama-heating-up- ... -district/

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:05 am

The one Buc-ees I’ve been to was a disappointment. It’s a Family Fare with gas pumps.

Wally’s is where it’s at.

OmahaFan · Post by **OmahaFan** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:05 am

Why should we allow a Texas company to build a mega gas station in Nebraska? What benefit does this honestly serve and how is this suppose to improve the life’s of people?

JDirte · Post by **JDirte** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:13 am

OmahaFan wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:05 am Why should we allow a Texas company to build a mega gas station in Nebraska? What benefit does this honestly serve and how is this suppose to improve the life’s of people?

Opposed to what? Having an empty field? People like Buc-ee’s, it will pull in a lot of traffic off the interstate. Once it is up and running it will also be an anchor for more development on the opposite side of the interstate.

Gretna is exploding in population, this corridor off of the interstate has the potential to add some pretty cool stuff. Buc-ee’s on one of the 4 corners is a very good add.

OmahaFan · Post by **OmahaFan** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:20 am

JDirte wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:13 am
OmahaFan wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:05 am Why should we allow a Texas company to build a mega gas station in Nebraska? What benefit does this honestly serve and how is this suppose to improve the life’s of people?
Opposed to what? Having an empty field? People like Buc-ee’s, it will pull in a lot of traffic off the interstate. Once it is up and running it will also be an anchor for more development on the opposite side of the interstate.

Gretna is exploding in population, this corridor off of the interstate has the potential to add some pretty cool stuff. Buc-ee’s on one of the 4 corners is a very good add.

Not worth it. Rather have it be an empty field. Why should our money support the state of Texas?

OmahaFan · Post by **OmahaFan** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:21 am

Build a Mega Casey’s or something just not Buc-ees. Not worth it.

JDirte · Post by **JDirte** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:23 am

OmahaFan wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:20 am
JDirte wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:13 am
OmahaFan wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:05 am Why should we allow a Texas company to build a mega gas station in Nebraska? What benefit does this honestly serve and how is this suppose to improve the life’s of people?
Opposed to what? Having an empty field? People like Buc-ee’s, it will pull in a lot of traffic off the interstate. Once it is up and running it will also be an anchor for more development on the opposite side of the interstate.

Gretna is exploding in population, this corridor off of the interstate has the potential to add some pretty cool stuff. Buc-ee’s on one of the 4 corners is a very good add.
Not worth it. Rather have it be an empty field. Why should our money support the state of Texas?

It’s just a company dawg, why does it matter that it’s from Texas? What do you want to add? A 50 acre Runza?

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:24 am

Casey's can go straight to heck as far as I'm concerned. They overexpanded and suck majorly now.

OverlookedFarm · Post by **OverlookedFarm** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:25 am

Bucc-ees is the Top Golf of gas stations.

Once you try it, you have no real reason to go back.

That said, this will dramatically reshape this area of town.

And yes, Casey's can go away. Terrible C-store options for more reasons than I can list.

OmahaFan · Post by **OmahaFan** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:29 am

Co-founder Arch Aplin III has given over $500,000 to Texas Republicans like Greg Abbott since 2015, with no major Trump-linked contributions identified, emphasizing state-level GOP priorities over presidential races.

Enough reason why we shouldn’t have it here.

BuildTaller · Post by **BuildTaller** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:33 am

That Colorado location has 24 Supercharger spots. It appears the Flying J at this spot in Gretna hasn't installed their chargers yet (?). So this could be another draw.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:37 am

OmahaFan wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:29 am Co-founder Arch Aplin III has given over $500,000 to Texas Republicans like Greg Abbott since 2015, with no major Trump-linked contributions identified, emphasizing state-level GOP priorities over presidential races.

Enough reason why we shouldn’t have it here.

Oh man, wait until you hear about Pete Ricketts and Jim Pillen

OmahaFan · Post by **OmahaFan** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:47 am

almighty_tuna wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:37 am
OmahaFan wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:29 am Co-founder Arch Aplin III has given over $500,000 to Texas Republicans like Greg Abbott since 2015, with no major Trump-linked contributions identified, emphasizing state-level GOP priorities over presidential races.

Enough reason why we shouldn’t have it here.
Oh man, wait until you hear about Pete Ricketts and Jim Pillen

Hopefully the will be voted out during the next election. We can only hope. Pillen has drive Nebraska straight into the ground and has left the state with a $400 Million deficit.

OmahaFan · Post by **OmahaFan** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:50 am

My bad it’s a $475 Million deficit.

damonhynes · Post by **damonhynes** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:58 am

OmahaFan wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:05 am Why should we allow a Texas company to build a mega gas station in Nebraska? What benefit does this honestly serve, and how is this supposed to improve the lives of people?

Shell: Houston/London/Amsterdam, take your pick, but none of them are in Nebraska
BP (and Amoco): London
Phillips: Houston, Bartlesville, OK
Maverik/Pilot Flying J: Salt Lake City
QT: Tulsa
Holly Frontier Sinclair: Salt Lake City or Dallas
Casey's: Des Moines
Kwik Shop: Westborough, Mass and Blackburn, England. (soon to be Charlotte, NC.)

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:03 am

One way to generate revenue for the state is to increase out of state people spending more money in state. People will go out of their way to stop at the only Buc-ees on I-80.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:13 am

Stan wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:03 am People will go out of their way to stop at the only Buc-ees on I-80.

That's facts. Buc-ee's is a HUGE draw.

OmaHawk · Post by **OmaHawk** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:24 am

Stan wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:24 am Casey's can go straight to heck as far as I'm concerned. They overexpanded and suck majorly now.

110% agree!!!

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:32 am

I think this will be a big deal and a big draw for a while. They seem to be expanding fast. The more they open the less of a draw it becomes. Don't get me wrong, as long as they maintain the quality it will be busy and do well. It just won't be the type of thing that gets people to plan to go see. I assume there will be one's eventually announced for Des Moines, Sioux Falls, etc....

Here's a list of those confirmed to be coming:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee – Opening spring 2026
Huber Heights, Ohio – Opening April 2026
Goodyear, Arizona – Opening June 2026
San Marcos, Texas – Projected opening date of July 2026
Fort Pierce, Florida – Set to open in 2027
Gallaway, Tennessee – Projected to open in 2027
Kansas City, Kansas – Expected opening date in 2027
St. Lucie, Florida – Anticipated opening in 2027
Boerne, Texas – Set to open in 2027
Ruston, Louisiana – Estimated opening date of 2027
Benton, Arkansas – Projected opening date of 2027
Oak Grove, Kentucky – Projected to open in 2027
Oak Creek, Wisconsin – Estimated opening date of 2027
West Memphis, Arkansas- Exact date not announced but expected in 2028
Lafayette, Louisiana – Projected to open in 2028
Mebane, North Carolina – Set to open in 2028
Monroe County, Georgia – Tentative opening date in 2028
Ocala, Florida – Estimated opening date of 2028
Hardeeville, South Carolina - Estimated opening date around 2031

https://www.al.com/news/2026/01/19-citi ... c-ees.html

djc311 · Post by **djc311** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:41 am

locoluke wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:10 am Leaked rendering of the site:

Is this from Sim City?

Post by **Brad** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:41 am

djc311 wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:41 am
locoluke wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:10 am Leaked rendering of the site:

Is this from Sim City?

Its a joke whoever made it... the file name is "NEcrossinglol"

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:45 am

almighty_tuna wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:13 am
Stan wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:03 am People will go out of their way to stop at the only Buc-ees on I-80.
That's facts. Buc-ee's is a HUGE draw.

This is a great get for the Omaha metro!
I’ve been to several Buc-ee’s in the Dallas-Ft Worth metroplex and it is much more than just a huge “gas station/convenience store”. A Buc-ee’s is a point of destination and a great anchor for the area!..

Great news!…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

djc311 · Post by **djc311** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:50 am

Brad wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:41 am
djc311 wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:41 am
locoluke wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:10 am Leaked rendering of the site:

Is this from Sim City?
Its a joke whoever made it... the file name is "NEcrossinglol"

I miss that game...

Post by **nebugeater** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:50 am

No matter what you think of Buc-ee's they are expanding. For the sake of Nebrasksa it is MUCH BETTER that this is on the Nebraska side of I80 vs the Iowa Side.

djc311 · Post by **djc311** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:51 am

Omaha Cowboy wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:45 am
almighty_tuna wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:13 am
Stan wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:03 am People will go out of their way to stop at the only Buc-ees on I-80.
That's facts. Buc-ee's is a HUGE draw.
This is a great get for the Omaha metro!
I’ve been to several Buc-ee’s in the Dallas-Ft Worth metroplex and it is much more than just a huge “gas station/convenience store”. A Buc-ee’s is a point of destination and a great anchor for the area!..

Great news!…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

I agree - I won't go out of my way to go out there often, but would probably stop in on occasion. I'd rather see something like an IKEA land out there somewhere. Maybe in due time.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 11:15 am

the area could really become something special if they do it all correctly. There's a ton of land out that way, and it's not much further to mahoney/SAC/safari park. I think it'd be great if there was an amusement park out there, too.

cchandler790 · Post by **cchandler790** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 11:29 am

This is an incredible get for the Omaha metro. Gretna is clearly exploding with growth, and landing Buc-ee’s reinforces its emergence as a true regional destination, especially alongside Gretna Crossing Park, the new City Hall, and continued westward residential expansion.

While an amusement park sounds exciting on paper, the economics are tough. With Adventureland roughly two hours away, Worlds of Fun about three hours away, and the new Bellevue Bay Waterpark entering the local market, the competition and high capital costs would make it difficult for a large theme park to break even. Amusement parks require massive upfront investment and long timelines to reach profitability, especially in a mid market region.

An amphitheater feels like a much stronger and more realistic fit. Pairing that with a mixed use district featuring canals, walkable shoppes, housing, trails, and public parks, possibly even a signature feature like a Ferris wheel, could create a year round destination that complements Buc-ee’s traffic rather than competing with existing regional attractions. This kind of experience driven development aligns well with Gretna’s growth trajectory and could help anchor the area as an entertainment and lifestyle hub for the entire metro.

Hopefully Highway 6 also gets a much needed redo. The existing interstate interchange would not be able to handle this level of traffic long term. A redesigned interchange with a divided diamond configuration would make sense here, along with roundabouts at the Nebraska Crossing exit to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and better support the scale of growth happening in Gretna.

CBJason · Post by **CBJason** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 11:55 am

When they announce an opening date. Don’t be surprised if that becomes delayed. The 2 that are supposed to open here in the Memphis area (on Greg’s list) have been pushed back at least a year I believe.

ItsAllAboutMe · Post by **ItsAllAboutMe** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 11:57 am

I've been to Buc-EE's a few times and I really like it. Given the massive amount of traffic on I-80 this will do very well. Not to mention the new jobs it creates and they pay very well. Would you rather have an Arch over the interstate that draws nobody? This will greatly drive even more development in an area that is already exploding. Probably wont be open for another 2 years or more.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:00 pm

cchandler790 wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 11:29 am A redesigned interchange with a divided diamond configuration would make sense here, along with roundabouts at the Nebraska Crossing exit to improve traffic flow

Hundreds of thousands of Nebraskans just got triggered