How Buc-ee's became the gateway to the great American road trip

For some Labor Day travelers, adventure is just a pit stop away — to a popular convenience store chain called Buc-ee's.

Buc-ee's opened its first store in Lake Jackson, Texas, in 1982. Since then, Buc-ee's has become a must-visit destination for roadtrippers across the country, filling up on gas, snacks — and yes, even some good old-fashioned barbecue.

Buc-ee's pitmaster Randy Pauly is overseeing what amounts to the biggest barbecue in all of Texas. The chain cooks around the clock to feed their 54 locations across 11 states with hot, fresh barbecue 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

"It's not just creating the recipes. It's about making sure each and every day, no matter what store you show up to, it's exactly what we started with. Exactly what you remember last time you were here," Paul