What is in buc ees?

Wondering what makes it so special? Let us introduce you to the most Southern things you can find at Buc-ee's on your first trip—and all the ones after that. Because you'll be hooked. Beaver Nuggets for all!

Texas' oldest soft drink gets plenty of attention here, considering Buc-ee's is known for having one of the biggest-ever fountain soda bars lined with Icee machines and enough options to make a kid giddy. (And us, too.) Just a little something to cool folks off on a hot Southern day.

These bites of caramel, sugar, and butter-coated corn puffs are Buc-ee's most popular road trip snack, without a doubt. You'll find these big clear bags full of popped golden nuggets get a huge share of aisle space at each location, making it pretty much impossible to resist picking up a batch.

We're being serious. These big 'ole buckets are 7.3 pounds each. Each! Everyone's country-cooking relative would be very proud. You'll think it's so ridiculous—until you bring it to the Dirty Santa party at Christmastime and have the greatest gag gift of all time.

Buc-ee's has an exclusive line of deer feeders that can't be beat in terms of quality and price, which is sort of their "thing." (They're also known for having the best deals for cheap ice and deer corn.) Deer feeder from a truck stop? Why not?

Known as the Texas Round Up, Buc-ee's barbecue counter is lined with all the good stuff and fixings, including brisket, sliced sausage, and smoked turkey—all of which can be turned into a made-to-order sandwich to take on the go. No need to wait in line for famous pulled pork anymore.

Southerners love a dried meat snack, and Buc-ee's jerky section—a whole wall of it, in fact—is something any jerky connoisseur would appreciate, with more than a dozen different varieties of Texas-made jerky to choose from. It's a favorite amongst those with a hankering for a handheld snack for the road, especially when paired with the in-house roasted nuts and potato chips fried on location.

It doesn't get more Southern than a table top that fits directly over a trash can in order to make your crawfish boil at home almost too easy to enjoy. It's not exactly something found at your local gas station, which only makes us want to buy it more.

This Czech pastry is a classic treat found in Texas Hill Country, and Buc-ee's makes it so you don't have to sniff out the secret places to get your fill of the pastry dough filled with sausage and cheese.

Leave it to a Southern gas station to keep hundreds of pickles and preserves on deck at all times. Beyond dozens of varieties and flavors of pickled vegetables, expect more, er, interesting products like pickled quail eggs. Alongside all of the pickles, you can pick up jars of in-house jams and jellies, as well as jarred items like peach cobbler filling, to take home for later.

Every morning, a crowd converges on Buc-ee's center section in search of its freshly made breakfast items. In addition to the favorite brisket-egg tacos, you can find hot biscuits filled with savory combinations such as bacon, egg, and cheese, wrapped up in old-school paper.

If you've never been to Buc-ee's, it'd be easy to assume that the gas station stops at its impressive food offerings, but around half of the interior space is actually dedicated to home, kitchen, and fashion items. You can find Texas farmhouse-inspired home décor, such as kitchen towels and knickknacks, as well as Buc-ee's themed clothing. Even Buc-ee's bathing suits!

Description Buc-ee's is an American chain of country stores, gas stations, and Tesla Superchargers created and owned by Arch "Beaver" Aplin III, headquartered in Lake Jackson, Texas. The chain was first founded in 1982 in Clute, Texas and began expansion with its first travel center in Luling, Texas in 2003. Wikipedia

The Texas-based chain — known for its giant, colorful, chock-full-of-goodies travel centers — will welcome visitors starting at 6 a.m. CT on Monday, Nov. 21, at at the southeast corner of Interstate 65 and Huntsville Brownsferry Road.

The new Buc-ee’s convenience store will span about 53,470-square-feet, the company says. Outside, the gas station will boast 120 fueling spots, along with a car wash, parking lot, dog walking areas and a statue of the Buc-ee’s mascot. (It’s a beaver, in case you’re wondering, and you’ll see his cartoonish, buck-toothed image adorning many products at the store.)

RELATED: 25 things you can buy at Buc-ee’s that cost less than a gallon of gas

People like to take photos and selfies with the Buc-ee’s statue — at least, they do at the location in Leeds — and if newbies at Buc-ee’s see a logjam forming near one of the doors in Athens, that’s probably what’s happening. (A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 10:30 a.m. on Monday with local officials, and that’s also likely to draw a crowd.)

The Athens Buc-ee’s is the company’s third location in Alabama, following popular travel centers built in Leeds, near Birmingham, and Robertsdale, in Baldwin County. A fourth location is in the works in Auburn, the company says.

If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about (why so much hoopla over gas pumps and snack food?) we’re here to explain.

Buc-ee’s is much more than a place to fill the tank and feed the munchies. It’s a big ol’ experience. And that can be overwhelming for first-timers who aren’t sure how to navigate the store (especially if it’s packed) and find the things that have made Buc-ee’s famous.

Not to worry, however; we’ve got you covered. Here’s what to expect if you make a Buc-ee’s run — in Athens or any of the other locations in Alabama.

Did we mention that Buc-ee’s is big? At 53,470-square-feet, the convenience store in Athens is almost as large as a football field (standard size 57,600-square-feet). OK, so it’d be dwarfed by a big-box super center, but compared to the typical snack shop at a convenience store, Buc-ee’s is massive.

If you’re allergic to crowds, Buc-ee’s isn’t the place for you, especially during its opening week. The Athens location is likely to be extremely busy until the novelty wears off — which could take some time — and you’ll rarely visit a Buc-ee’s that’s empty of people. On the plus side, Buc-ee’s locations are well staffed and have an efficient system in place. Things move along briskly, in our experience, but a dose of patience is required during peak hours.

Buc-ee’s is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. With that schedule, there are bound to be slow periods. Staffers have told us that weekends are busiest, as a rule, and lunchtime can get a little crazy. Pick your time wisely.

Buc-ee’s prides itself on being sparkling clean and supremely organized. We’ve seen several staffers roving the store during our visits in Leeds, wiping up small spills in the coffee area, straightening displays and keeping everything shipshape.

Buc-ee’s boasts about the quality of its restrooms, and with good reason. The women’s restroom in Leeds, for example, is large, brightly lit and as close to immaculate as possible. There are lots of stalls, mirrors without streaks, clean floors, faucets that work and all the paper goods you need.

Caveat: We haven’t visited a Buc-ee’s at, say, 2 a.m., but assume the cleanliness factor holds even during the wee hours.

The single most talked-about area at Buc-ee’s? The Texas Round Up station. That’s where you’ll find the chopped brisket barbecue sandwiches — a marquee item for the chain — along with sliced brisket, pulled pork, fried chicken and other grab-and-go sandwiches. Customers flock to this station, which is centrally located and easy to find. We’ve seen folks waiting for the next batch of brisket sandwiches to hit an empty bin, and heard staffers announce the arrival of more sandwiches, sparking a rush their way.

Some sandwiches at Buc-ee’s are made to order, and you won’t find them in bins at the Texas Round Up station. If you want to try one of these, head to one of the computer terminals near the fudge station. (Look for the “Order Here” sign.) Use the touchscreen to order, grab the paper slip with your order number and pick up your sandwich at the counter between the jerky station and the bakery. The same goes for tacos, hot dogs and other made-to-order items. Fries with chili and cheese, anyone?

RELATED: What’s the best sandwich at Buc-ee’s? (Spoiler alert: It’s not BBQ brisket)

In the mood for sweet instead of savory? Buc-ee’s has a station for nuts (served warm and doused in sugar, cinnamon and the like) and another for fudge (chocolate, vanilla and flavors in-between). Like many items at the store, fudge is available in grab-and-go packages, if you don’t feel like ordering from a staffer at the counter.

Attention, jerky aficionados: You’ll find a ton of dehydrated meat snacks at Buc-ee’s, pre-packaged or sold by weight at the jerky station. Varieties include mild beef jerky, lemon pepper jerky, ghost pepper jerky, steakhouse jerky, Bohemian garlic jerky, cherry maple jerky, turkey jerky...take your pick.

Buc-ee’s also is known for its kolaches. Never heard of ‘em? These are pastry rolls stuffed with meat, cheese or fruit. Kolaches are a favorite with customers at Buc-ee’s locations in Texas, but from what we’ve seen, not quite as popular in Alabama. You can buy kolaches at Buc-ee’s from a bakery case, near the jerky, fudge and Texas Round Up stations at the store.

Good to know: “Pronounced ‘koh-lah-shee,’ the word kolache is derived from the Czech word, kola, meaning ‘wheels’ or ‘rounds,’ referring to the shape of the pastry,” says the Feeling Foodish website. “A staple of Czech culture, kolaches gained popularity in the United States in the 1880s when thousands of Czech people immigrated to Texas.”

Folks on the road want snacks, and Buc-ee’s stocks a cornucopia of munchables. The store offers chocolate bars, cookies, chips, trail mix, popcorn, cotton candy, nut clusters, gummies, pork rinds, salt water taffy, pecan pralines, sunflower seeds, candy corn, sour bites, pecan logs, dried fruit, cheese curls, licorice, pretzels, rock candy, cheese cubes, cinnamon rolls, banana pudding, ice pops...the list goes on and on.

Beaver nuggets, or sweet and salty corn puffs, can be found throughout the store. Buc-ee’s is famous for this snack, which comes in a basic version or coated with chocolate, cheese, caramel and sea salt, and more. Aficionados say Beaver Nuggets are addictive, for the taste, the crunch and the relative lack of mess in your car.

If you’re looking for food in a healthier mode, Buc-ee’s also has grab-and-go salads, sandwich wraps, hardboiled eggs and other items.

Need caffeine? Buc-ee’s has earned raves for its coffee, and the self-serve coffee station is a busy spot at the store. You’ll find hot, fresh java there, brewed in several Bunn machines. An area near the coffee station is devoted to creamers and sweeteners. It’s surprisingly tidy, too.

You won’t go thirsty at Buc-ee’s. which has an array of soft-drink dispensers, several Icee machines and a wealth of beverages displayed in refrigerator cases and on store shelves. You’ll find everything from bottled water to energy drinks to BuzzBallz (little wine chillers in flavors such as Peach, Lime Rita, Pineapple Colada and Choco). No hard liquor at Buc-ee’s, but the store sells beer and wine to folks age 21 and older.

As you might expect, merchandise that bears the Buc-ee’s logo is everywhere. That includes T-shirts, swimsuits, hoodies, baby clothes, backpacks, stuffed animals, can huggers, toothbrushes, bandannas, key chains, buttons, coolers, plastic bandages, nail clippers, dog collars, travel cups, sunglasses, refrigerator bags...you name it.

One eye-catching display: An old-school red pickup truck filled with stuffed animals depicting the Buc-ee’s beaver. It’s a kid magnet, and we’ve seen several families taking photos there. We’ve also spotted kids wailing for stuffed animals as they gaze longingly at the truck. Bear in mind: Impulse purchases at Buc-ee’s are rampant among folks of all ages.

Buc-ee’s stocks a wide variety of household goods, from the practical to the decorative. We’ve seen backyard grills, folding chairs, tents, dishes, wall art, wooden signs, coffee mugs, drinking glasses, knickknacks, pet supplies, books, Alabama and Auburn commemorative gear, and much more. It’s like the gifts area of Cracker Barrel on steroids.

As you’re walking up to Buc-ee’s, or leaving the convenience store, you might see 50-pound bags of deer corn displayed near the entrance. Deer corn is much in demand at the chain; Buc-ee’s even lists locations where deer corn is available in its website FAQs. (The Leeds store has it; no word yet on Athens.)

What is Buc-ee's? Buc-ee's stores are larger than a traditional gas station or truck stop convenience store, with some locations spanning over 60,000 square feet. In addition to low-priced gas (relatively), they have a wide range of products, including fresh food, snacks, drinks, clothing, and home goods.