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First-ever Buc-ee's travel center is destroyed by fire
Buc-ee’s lovers have been left devastated after its first-ever travel center in the country was destroyed in a massive fire.
Multiple emergency responders including from the Luling Fire Department and Caldwell County Office of Emergency Management responded to calls about the blaze at around 10.30am in Luling, Texas on July 1.
The area around the building, which is located east of San Antonio along I-10, was immediately blocked off as crews ran to get the fire under control.
Images shared by the departments show plumes of black smoke flying against the chain's smiling beaver mascot as most of the roof of the gas station remains collapsed.
Multiple emergency responders responded to calls about a fire that had engulfed the first ever Buc-ee's travel center at around 10.30am in Luling, Texas on July 1
Images shared by the departments show plumes of black smoke flying against the chain's smiling beaver mascot
Officials later clarified it was the original Buc-ee’s building that had opened doors in 2003 which sustained damage rather than the newly developed center directly across the road.
In a Facebook post, the Fire Department wrote: 'Crews are working on a structure fire in the area of I-10 and 183 in Luling. Despite the sign and some information you may have seen, the fire is NOT the new Buc-ee’s travel stop.'
Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the fire or if there were any casualties.
Locals were warned to stay away from the area even after the fire was out due to cleanup efforts.
Long-time customers prayed for the locals and responders as well as questioned what had happened on social media.
One person wrote: 'Haven’t even been a month since it opened a brand new Buccees burnt to the ground in Luling TX! So sad!'
And another wrote: 'Broke my heart when I heard about this on the news.'
A third said: 'They had large equipment in there tearing it down. Probably a power line not off or a vehicle overheating. Who know until the investigation is complete.'
While a fourth fan of the company wrote: 'As a fan of Buc-ee’s, I’m shocked to see an old closed Buc-ee’s being burnt. But thank goodness the new one that recently opened was unaffected and unharmed.'
But while the destruction of the oldest travel center left fans heartbroken, the newest building has caused massive outrage after the popular retailer made a major design change.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the fire or if there were any casualties
Buc-ee's was founded in 1982 Store by Arch 'Beaver' Aplin III and Don Wasek
Long-time customers prayed for the locals and responders as well as questioned what had happened on social media
The new location that opened on June 10 has been dubbed 'the world's largest convenience store' chain, measuring in at a whopping 75,000 square feet.
But scores of customers have taken to social media to blast the retailer's decision to give its beloved beaver mascot an 'Ozempic-like' makeover.
A TikTok user (@marrallmike) posted photos showing how the mascot had changed, with more than 700 people leaving negative comments about its new appearance, according to My San Antonio.
'What did they do to my beautiful boy? It looks like he's going to jump scare me at 4:00 am now,' the user wrote in the video's description box on opening day.
'The charm has been ripped away,' another commenter said.
Locals were warned to stay away from the area even after the fire was out due to cleanup efforts
A TikTok user posted photos of the store chain's beloved beaver mascot from two locations and more than 700 others have left negative comments regarding its new appearance
Like its Baytown and Alabama locations, Buc-ee's in Luling has a beloved mascot statue - but it is noticeably different from the beaver's past appearance.
The beaver statue outside the Luling location is sculpted, and instead of tiny hands that are disproportionate to his body, they are much bigger and longer.
The mascot's toes are also showing and its eyes are shining and brighter than its predecessor.
Many TikTokers have since voiced their displeasure over the statue swap, with one saying: 'I hope they put the original in the Smithsonian.'
'Every time I went to a Buc-ee's on a road trip, I would always take a picture with the statue. That lovable statue for years,' a commenter wrote.
'But on the most recent trip, I noticed something was wrong with it. Rip Buc-ee.'
Other users have given him nicknames such as 'Hollywood Buc-ee' and 'Ozempic Buc-ee' - which has been hearted more than 300 times by fellow TikTokers.
Although the mascot changes have upset TikTokers, one person claimed that only the new Buc-ee's locations, including Luling, are getting updated statues.
'None of the old ones have changed. Only the new stores are getting this model,' the commenter wrote.
Buc-ee's was founded in 1982 Store by Arch 'Beaver' Aplin III and Don Wasek.
It began as a chain of highway travel centers, and now has more than 40 U.S. locations.
The logo and mascot were created by Aplin when he and Wasek first founded the store chain, the co-founder told CBS News in 2022.
Buc-ee's has since become a force to be reckoned with among its retailer competitors.
Prior to June its store in Sevierville, Tennessee, held the record for being the world's largest convenience store.