{"id":2196,"date":"2026-06-11T10:04:08","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T10:04:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=2196"},"modified":"2026-06-11T10:04:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T10:04:08","slug":"its-really-happening-big-changes-ahead-at-nc-highway-exit-as-buc-ees-breaks-ground","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=2196","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s really happening. Big changes ahead at NC highway exit as Buc-ee\u2019s breaks ground"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n

Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

Buc-ee\u2019s founder Arch \u201cBeaver\u201d Aplin said he\u2019s happy Alamance County officials reached out when they did about building the state\u2019s first mega-size travel center in Mebane.<\/p>\n

Read more A Raleigh architectural landmark will soon open its doors for tours<\/a><\/p>\n

He was just moving past Orange County\u2019s decision to reject Buc-ee\u2019s first choice for its travel center off Interstates 40\/85 in nearby Efland, Aplin said. He spoke to dozens gathered at Wednesday\u2019s groundbreaking at 1425 Trollingwood-Hawfields Road in Mebane.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re happy to be in an area, in a community, that wants it,\u201d he said, noting North Carolina has been on the radar for some time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just think it\u2019s just a wonderful state up and down the Eastern coast, if you will, and \u2014 the interstate that runs through, the quality of people, the workforce, the labor pool that\u2019s in North Carolina \u2014 we\u2019re super excited about it,\u201d Aplin said.<\/p>\n

The 74,000-square-foot store \u2014 the size of 1.28 football fields \u2014 covers 34 acres and could open in November 2027. The Mebane City Council unanimously approved the project in 2024 for 650 parking spots, 120 gas pumps and 24 EV charging sites.<\/p>\n

Its surroundings are a suburban travel corridor in transition.<\/p>\n

Buc-ee\u2019s sits on the edge of the 1,200-acre N.C. Commerce Park, a hub for industry and big trucks servicing UPS facilities and distribution centers for Lidl, Walmart and Amazon. Beyond that are modest homes, the historic Hawfields Presbyterian Church, and the Hawfields baseball field, along with a couple of small truck stops.<\/p>\n

A mixed-use project is well underway north of the interstate \u2014 third & wood<\/a> \u2014 which will bring 445,000 square feet of retail, restaurants, and medical space, plus 683 apartments.<\/p>\n

Buc-ee\u2019s will be good for Mebane, Alpin and several local officials and state lawmakers said. Mebane Mayor Ed Hooks thanked Alpin for Buc-ee\u2019s partnership and its estimated $40 million investment in Alamance County.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday marks more than just the turning of dirt on a 30-some-acre site,\u201d Hooks said. \u201cToday, we plant the seeds of opportunity, growth and prosperity that will flourish for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beard has estimated the travel center could draw 5 to 6 million visitors a year<\/u><\/a> to the area. That has many local residents worried about the traffic through an already busy corridor.<\/p>\n

N.C. Department of Transportation crews were busy Wednesday installing a new bridge for a new diverging diamond interchange over I-40\/85. Buc-ee\u2019s is paying roughly $10 million for the $38.7 million project, which also will add traffic lanes and signals to Trollingwood-Hawfields Road.<\/p>\n

More Buc-ee\u2019s locations could be on the way to North Carolina, Aplin said Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Read more What to know about dismissed lawsuits alleging NC State trainer abused athletes<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s taken a long time coming, but yes, with any luck and creeks don\u2019t rise, we\u2019ll have more in North Carolina,\u201d Alpin said.<\/p>\n

Company officials have said the store\u2019s grand opening is tentatively scheduled for the end of 2027.<\/p>\n

Buc-ee\u2019s is located at Exit 152 off I-40\/85, about 50 miles west of downtown Raleigh and 130 miles north of Charlotte.<\/p>\n

Some people go to Buc-ee\u2019s for the cheap gas, or to pick up snacks for the road. Others see Buc-ee\u2019s as a destination, and it has developed a cult following.<\/p>\n

The Mebane Buc-ee\u2019s will feature a special \u201cGarden of Local Heroes\u201d in a prominent location to celebrate local firefighters, first responders and law enforcement, said state Rep. Dennis Riddell, a District 64 Republican.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be just for folks to pause and to be thankful for all of the first responders who keep us safe every day,\u201d Riddell said.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s are some of the other attractions:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a big day for us,\u201d Alamance County Commissioners Chair Kelly Allen said. Not only for the property and sales tax money coming to Mebane and the county, but also the jobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am sure that people are going to be thrilled to death that they\u2019re going to be able to come down here and get a job and work in a wonderful place like Buc-ee\u2019s,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Aplin\u2019s mother gave him the childhood nickname \u201cBeaver\u201d when he was born. It comes from a cartoon mascot, \u201cBucky Beaver,\u201d who appeared in Ipanna Toothpaste commercials in the 1950s. The travel center\u2019s name also honors Aplin\u2019s Labrador retriever, \u201cBuck.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buc-ee\u2019s has 55 stores in 15 states. The 74,000-square-foot Mebane store will be big, but not the biggest. That honor goes to a 75,593-square-foot Buc-ee\u2019s travel center in Luling, Texas \u2014 for now.<\/p>\n

In 2027, a 76,245-square-foot Buc-ee\u2019s could open in Fort Pierce, Florida<\/u><\/a>, Sebastian Daily reports.<\/p>\n

Read more Poor handwashing, food held for 7 days: Latest Triangle restaurant inspections<\/a><\/p>\n

This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 3:25 PM.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Buc-ee\u2019s has North Carolina travel center under construction at Exit 152 on I-40\/85. Mebane store first in NC could open in 2027 with jobs, gas, local attractions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2195,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-read-todays-edition"],"yoast_head":"\nIt\u2019s really happening. 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