Story by Christian Phillips
They say that everything is bigger in Texas, and when it comes to Buc-ee’s, that is certainly true. The Lone Star State gas station is coming to North Carolina after the city of Mebane’s City Council recently voted to approve their zoning request for this cornfield, located off I-40/85 in Alamance County.
The quiet corn field will soon look very different, transformed into a Buc-ee’s gas station, complete with 120 fuel pumps and a 70,000 sq foot building.
Buc-ee’s is a major gas station chain based out of Lake Jackson, Texas, and has many stores throughout the southeast. They are famous for their size, and the offerings inside their stores.
The decision for Buc-ee’s to come to Mebane has been controversial, with environmental groups, such as the 7 Directions of Service, are protesting the massive gas station. They claim that the Buc-ee’s is being built on indigenous land.
However this claim has been met with skepticism from others.
“Where were these individuals and where were the facts; it was all generalizations as far as what the indigenous people went. We sympathize with them, but without proof, you cannot turn a project like this down,” said Mebane Mayor Ed Hooks.
Those sentiments are also shared by State Senator Amy Galey (R), who represents Alamance County, which includes Mebane.
“Everybody is concerned about preserving our Native American history, that is very important. But given the context, some would say there is a manufactured tone to it, for this particular project,” said Senator Galey.
Members of the 7 Directions of Service are also members of the Occoneechee Band of the Saponi Nation, a tribe local to Mebane.
However, the 7 Directions of Service do not speak for the tribe, according to Tribal Chairperson, William Anthony “Tony” Hayes.
“Every member of this tribe has a right as a citizen of this country to protest whatever cause they want to protest, but that doesn’t give them the right to position the tribe officially to that particular protest.”
“We did not take any stance because we did not see any indiscretions that were going to affect the tribe in a hugely negative way,” said Chairperson Hayes.
Both Mayor Hooks and Senator Galey spoke of how they are excited about the revenue boost Buc ee’s will generate for the local economy, a sentiment shared by Chairperson Hayes, who also cited the company’s track record of good pay. Construction is expected to begin this year, with the gas station opening in 2025.
