Will they or won’t they? Buc-ee’s returns with plans for second Colorado store

Colorado’s relationship with Buc-ee’s has had more ups and downs than a drive over Monument Hill. The Texas travel center chain famous for its beaver mascot, brisket sandwiches and very clean bathrooms has officially submitted plans for a second Colorado location. Yes, the plans are for the controversial area in unincorporated El Paso County, near I-25 and County Line Road, north of Monument.

Here’s how we got here. Buc-ee’s first approached the town of Palmer Lake in December 2024 about annexing the land so it could build inside town limits. The year-long fight that followed split the town of about 2,700 people, with resignations, recalls and a special election that now requires voters to approve any annexation. In February 2026, Buc-ee’s withdrew its application, and it looked like the beaver had left the building. The company said the move was “a step back to thoughtfully consider options,” not a goodbye. A month later, grading equipment showed up on the property.

In June, Buc-ee’s went to El Paso County instead and asked to be classified as a “convenience store” under the land’s zoning. That’s a bold term for a store the size of a football field with 120 fueling positions. After an eight-hour hearing in August, county commissioners voted 4-1 in the company’s favor. The opposition group Integrity Matters has since filed a lawsuit challenging that decision, and its lawyers say a ruling could take at least four months.

Now the newly submitted site plan goes through an administrative review of things like lighting, landscaping and traffic. There’s no public hearing, and there’s no appeal to the commissioners if it’s approved. Until then, the closest Buc-ee’s is still the one in Johnstown, with 116 pumps and plenty of Beaver Nuggets. Will Colorado get a second one? Stay tuned, because this saga isn’t over yet.