A milestone in Motion
Buc-ee’s Harrison County: Grand Opening June 9, 2025
How Buc-ee’s Travel Center Came to Harrison County
Even before Buc-ee’s Travel Center, a name synonymous with endless snacks, spotless restrooms, and countless fuel pumps, opened in Foley, Alabama, in 2018, Bill Lavers, Executive Director of the Harrison County Development Commission (HCDC), had his sights set on bringing one to Harrison County. It became a mission. But it wasn’t easy.
There were countless unreturned calls. Voicemails left unanswered. At one point, a message simply read: “Quit calling.” But persistence has a way of paying off. Eventually, the Buc-ee’s team began to see the strategic advantage of adding another location along the I-10 corridor. And that’s where the story begins.
Communication between HCDC’s Bill Lavers and Brandi Hough, Buc-ee’s, and the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) began in 2020. They worked through potential obstacles and devised effective solutions. With the groundwork laid, HCDC was finally ready to bring the vision forward.
On June 15, 2021, during a regular meeting of the Harrison County Development Commission, the commissioners voted on and approved a resolution supporting the development of a Buc-ee’s Travel Center. The proposed location, situated at the northwest corner of I-10 and Menge Avenue/Firetower Road interchange, spans approximately 185 acres of undeveloped land, with an additional 53 acres located at the southeast corner, offering strategic rail access.
After the Board of Commissioners approved the resolution, it then went on to the Board of Supervisors, and on July 6, 2021, the supervisors approved the resolution, pushing the project into action.
The project had its hurdles along the way, but that same year, the Mississippi Legislature passed (and the Governor signed) House Bill 1139, enabling Harrison County to issue Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Bonds to support projects just like this one. With that legislative foundation in place, the Board’s resolution respectfully called on the Harrison County Board of Supervisors to join in concurring support, helping move the Buc-ee’s project from possibility to progress.
Fast forward to June 9, 2025, the grand opening of the much-anticipated Harrison County Buc-ee’s. The turnout was nothing short of historic: it was the second-largest grand opening in Buc-ee’s company history, and the first and only store in Mississippi!
This achievement would not have been possible without the incredible partnership and support of state and local leaders, including MDOT, Governor Tate Reeves, the Harrison County Board of Supervisors, and, of course, the hardworking team at HCDC. Together, they turned a big idea into an even bigger reality.
It goes to show that with persistence, the right team, and a shared vision for a better future, big things really do come to those who wait. After all, these things don’t happen overnight.
Submitted by Harrison County Development Commission
Governmental Tourism Leadership Award & Tourism Achievement Award
Visitors By Origin
“Our experience working with the Harrison County Development Commission, and Harrison County in general, was as collaborative as I have seen from a municipal planning group. From the first meeting with Bill and Brandi to the Grand Opening in June, every problem, concern, or issue was handled with urgency and professionalism. We could not have picked a better community to partner with on our first Buc-ee’s in Mississippi.”
