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Mississippi’s only Buc-ee’s marks one year, draws crowds and traffic concerns.Mississippi’s only Buc-ee’s marks one year, draws crowds and traffic concerns HARRISON COUNTY, Miss.(WVUE) - Mississippi’s only Buc-ee’s marked one year since opening, drawing crowds appreciative that their favorite items remain unchanged.Shawn Leblanc said brisket tops her list, while Andrew Johnson praised the sweet tea.The travel center offers pecans, cookies, cakes, candies and snacks among its food options.Leblanc drove to the travel center from Lake Charles and said she has visited five times in the past year.“I can’t wait to come.We come with friends, sometimes passing through going on to Gulf Shores,” Leblanc said.“I’ve got half a dozen T-shirts, maybe more.The snacks are great.” Johnson works at a business across the street and said the past year brought benefits and challenges.Buc-ee’s draws more customers to his business, but he said the nearby roundabout backs up regularly.“It’s about every week.You would think it would just be OK, just a little Memorial Day weekend traffic sometimes here and there,” Johnson said.Harrison County Supervisor Marlin Ladner said most of the traffic in the roundabout starts in the Buc-ee’s parking lot.“If traffic gets stopped and can’t make the left turn here, traffic backs up into the roundabout,” Ladner said.Ladner said he wants to coordinate with Buc-ee’s to implement recommendations from a traffic study the county commissioned.The study suggests extending the curb in the parking lot to redirect traffic toward the gas pumps.The study also recommends better signs and two-lane markings at the roundabout to help Buc-ee’s shoppers and drivers from nearby neighborhoods.“Several neighborhoods, a good number of neighborhoods.That’s their main entrance to their home sites, as well as exiting,” Ladner said.Johnson said the travel center is sparking growth in the area despite traffic challenges.“At the end of the day, it brings people into the area.The donut shop is doing great.The coffee shop is doing great.And people even come down in the evening for the ice cream,” Johnson said.Ladner said the first year has been successful.“I think this first year has been great.It’s generated revenue for the county, and so we’re looking forward to the continued success of Buc-ee’s,” Ladner said.Leblanc headed back to Lake Charles with Beaver Nuggets.See a spelling or grammar error in our story?Click Here to report it.Please include the headline.Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel.Copyright 2026 WVUE.All rights reserved.