Nebraska is getting its first Buc-ee’s, and the project just took a big step forward.
Gretna officials have approved zoning changes and permits for Nebraska’s first Buc-ee’s, clearing the way for the travel center near Nebraska Crossing, just off I-80 and east of State Highway 31. City officials said Buc-ee’s hopes to break ground later this year, with construction expected to wrap up in late 2028.
That makes Gretna the center of Nebraska’s Buc-ee’s watch.
The site sits inside Nebraska Crossing’s “Good Life District,” a state-approved incentive zone that cuts state sales tax in half — from 5.5% to 2.75% — for developments within its boundaries. That incentive is the reason Nebraska landed this Buc-ee’s at all. Gretna city administrator Paula Dennison said the program “is actually what caught the attention of the Buc-ee’s enterprise. Without it, I’m not convinced that they would have looked at Nebraska.”
Plans call for a 74,000-square-foot store with 100 gas pumps on a 43-acre tract.
For Nebraska drivers, the draw is obvious.
Buc-ee’s is famous for huge stores, dozens of fuel pumps, brisket sandwiches, Beaver Nuggets, jerky, fudge, road-trip snacks, clean restrooms, and beaver-branded merchandise. For people in the Omaha area, this would mean getting the Buc-ee’s experience without driving to Missouri, Kansas, or farther south.
The location is also strategic.
I-80 is one of the country’s major east-west highways, and Gretna sits close enough to Omaha to pull in locals while still serving long-distance travelers. Gretna’s mayor has said the city’s I-80 location makes it a strong stop for cross-country travelers and local residents alike, and that the project is expected to generate tax revenue, increase tourism, and create hundreds of local jobs.
The next thing to watch is traffic.
City officials have said Buc-ee’s will conduct a traffic study, with results going to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. That makes sense: a Buc-ee’s does not quietly blend into a highway exit. It brings heavy fuel traffic, food traffic, shoppers, and plenty of first-time visitors.
For now, Nebraska’s Buc-ee’s plan is no longer just speculation.
Gretna has moved the project forward, late 2028 is the construction target, and Nebraska’s first beaver-branded travel center is officially getting closer.
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