PALMER LAKE, Colo. — A second Buc-ee's location is in the works in Colorado.
The Texas-based travel store and gas station chain is in the early stages of acquiring the land for a location in El Paso County, between Denver and Colorado Springs.
Palmer Lake Mayor Glant Havenar said Buc-ee's has inquired about annexing land for a potential store at Interstate 25 and County Line Road, between Larkspur and Monument.
Havenar said per state statute, an annexation hearing is afforded to anyone who asks for one. Palmer Lake Board of Trustees will hold the eligibility hearing on Thursday, Dec. 12.
Havenar said the hearing is not to annex the land, but is to determine if the owner is eligible to move forward in the process. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting to learn more, ask questions and make comments.
"If the owner is determined at the eligibility hearing on December 12 to be eligible for annexation, they would likely hold a series of community meetings where residents are urged to ask questions and learn more about the development," Havenar said. "This process could be followed by an eventual annexation hearing, which is also open for public input."
"At this stage, we cannot comment on the project, whether we believe it meets eligibility, or share any thoughts or opinions on its viability and merits. Commenting or issuing opinions would break our oath to quasi-judicial standing and neutrality, and we would be barred from voting on the development in any form."
"I want to learn as much as possible about the development and be able to vote on it, so I will only share this: I will gather the facts and information and hear from local residents to determine the best course of action when I am called upon to vote," Havenar said. "Until that day, I do not have enough information and am thus prohibited from breaking my oath."
Buc-ee's opened its first Colorado location, at Interstate 25 and County Road 48 in Johnstown, north of the Denver metro area, in March. The 74,000-square-foot travel center has 116 fueling positions and 12 EV charging stations.
The Colorado location signaled the first move outside of the South for Buc-ee's. Between Alabama, Florida and Georgia, Buc-ee's has more than 50 locations, with more than 40 in Texas alone.
Since beginning its expansion in 2019, Buc-ee’s has opened travel centers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Missouri.
Known for its award-winning clean bathrooms, all Buc-ee's operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The stores serve Buc-ee’s favorites including Beaver nuggets, Texas barbeque, fudge, kolaches, jerky and pastries.
