by Malcolm Butler
Arch Aplin III, affectionately known as Beaver, stated early in his address to the crowd of hundreds that gathered for the Buc-ee’s groundbreaking ceremony Friday morning that he was “a little emotional.”
Wearing his sunglasses, sports coat and Cowboy hat, Beaver came across sincerely when addressing remarks made by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry.
“Governor Landry said something that set me back a little bit,” said Beaver. “I don’t know. It just rushed over me. Living the American Dream. You are right. I am, Governor.
“It’s phenomenal. I grew up in a small town in Texas and had absolutely no experience in convenience stores or travel centers, but I was able to pursue an idea – a dream – at a young age. And I am living it in color now.”
Lincoln Parish residents and motorists on Interstate 20 and other roads leading to north central Louisiana will soon be living it too when the world-renowned travel center opens in April of 2027.
“These things usually take 16 to 18 months to build,” said Beaver. “We are bringing all of our Texas barbecue and brisket, all of jerky, but we will also sell boudin.”
Friday’s groundbreaking came 34 months after the original announcement in January of 2023 and is just one more step in reassuring locals that the 74,000-square foot travel center will be a reality on Tarbutton Road.
Beaver said that the idea for coming to Ruston started in about as simple a way as possible.
Holding up a copy of the letter he received from the late Marilyn Robbins, Beaver read part of it aloud Friday morning.
“I own 58 acres in Ruston, and I want you in my town,” read the letter Beaver received a few years ago prior to the announcement.
“And sometimes this is how things happen,” said Beaver. Really. “And this is how this happened. Really. She took the time, and she took the opportunity, and she sent me a letter.”
Governor Landry and Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker both thanked Beaver for his decision and dedication to making the Ruston Buc-ee’s a reality.
“He represents the American Dream,” said Governor Landry. “He represents what America is all about. It’s a land of opportunity, for you to go out and be whoever you want to be and to live out those dreams and to do things with a smile.”
There are currently 54 active operational Buc-ee’s in the United States with 36 of those residing in the state of Texas. The first was built in 1982.
“I grew up in a small town in Texas, but all of my family is from Louisiana,” said Beaver. “My grandma and grandpa lived in a little town of Harrisonburg in North Louisiana. He owned a general store back in the day, a little mercantile general store.
“I never thought I would be in the convenience store business, but I think it evolved from back then. As things evolved, I think that gene in me came out.
“I opened my first convenience store in 1982. I knew nothing about the business. I had a labrador retriever named Buck, and my nickname is Beaver. So, I named it Buc-ee’s and made my logo a Beaver. That was my business plan.”
Ruston will be the first of two that will eventually open in Louisiana with Lafayette also scheduled to be home to Beaver Nuggets.
Walker said it will add tremendous value to Ruston, Grambling and all of Lincoln Parish. According to online sources, Buc-ee’s starting salaries begin at $16 to $20 per hour depending on locations with management positions paying much higher.
“As they told me today, they will be hiring 450 employees at first,” said Walker. “Now some of those will be temporary until they get the store fully open. But when you look at whether it’s 250 employees or 450, that’s huge for our area.
“It’s huge for people who need that type of salary. And more importantly, they have a 401k, and they have paid vacations. But the most important part of it is they will have health insurance.”
“When you give people an opportunity to have a good paying job with benefits, especially health insurance, they can feel like they are truly taking care of themselves and their families,” said Walker. “That’s the biggest part of this American Dream.”
