Indiana’s first Buc-ee’s proposal has cleared its biggest local hurdle: Greenwood’s Common Council voted 7–2 to rezone the planned site near Interstate 65 and Worthsville Road. The decision moves the project beyond the uncertain stage covered in our previous update, when the council vote was still pending.
That does not mean construction is underway—or that an opening date is locked in. The approval changes the property’s zoning so the project can advance, but Buc-ee’s still has development and construction steps to complete before Indiana drivers can count on a grand opening.
What Greenwood approved
The September 21 vote covered about 80 acres at the interchange, including the land planned for the travel center and associated commercial development. According to Axios Indianapolis, the proposal calls for a roughly 74,000-square-foot store with 120 fueling positions.
The rezoning is important because the site was not previously zoned for this kind of large commercial use. It follows earlier approvals from Greenwood’s plan commission, turning what had been a proposal with a major unanswered question into a project that has cleared its central local zoning test.
If completed as proposed, the travel center is expected to employ between 175 and 225 people. Its large footprint and around-the-clock operation would make it a significant new stop on I-65 south of Indianapolis, which helps explain both the excitement around the project and the careful local review.
Traffic remains the big issue
The council’s decision came after months of concern about congestion near schools, neighborhoods and the interstate. The developer has said the project will include about $13 million to $14 million in road improvements, including a new roundabout, added turn lanes and more room for vehicles approaching the I-65 ramps.
Those improvements are expected to be completed before the store opens. Local school officials have continued to press for close coordination because buses, students and families already use the surrounding intersections during the busiest parts of the day.
When could Indiana’s Buc-ee’s open?
Late 2028 is the most widely reported target, but it remains an estimate rather than a confirmed opening date. Construction is expected to take roughly two years, and the project must still move through property, development and permitting work before that clock can meaningfully start.
For Buc-ee’s fans, the headline is still encouraging: Indiana has no open Buc-ee’s today, and the Greenwood location is now much closer to becoming the state’s first. The careful wording matters, though. The store is approved at the zoning level—not under construction and not yet ready to announce a grand-opening day.
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