The New Beaver in Town

Buc-ee’s opens new Texas outpost for snack-happy road trippers on I-35

The new travel center on I-35 will open August 12. (Pictured: A Buc-ee's location in Katy)

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Road trips from Dallas to San Antonio are about to get longer for some snack-obsessed travelers. Buc-ee's, the iconic roadside gas station and store, is debuting a new travel center off Interstate 35 in San Marcos on Wednesday, August 12.

The 74,000-square-foot store is located at 3245 N. IH 35 — technically in San Marcos, but right on the edge of Kyle, south of Austin. The public can stop by starting at 6 am August 12, and a ribbon cutting with San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson and County Judge Ruben Becerra marks the occasion at 10 am.

Like other Buc-ee's locations, this one will sell Texas barbecue, kolaches, fudge, fresh pastries, and packaged snacks like the famous Beaver Nuggets, made from puffed cornmeal. There are also 128 fueling positions, a press release says.

"The Buc-ee's mantra is 'exceed expectations,' and this San Marcos location is a special step for us in that regard. The San Marcos store will help us provide the ultimate Buc-ee's experience to all I-35 travelers, north and southbound!" says Stan Beard of Buc-ee's in the release.

Buc-ee's, which started in the Houston-area town of Lake Jackson in 1982, is a Texas icon. It has a total of 57 stores in 13 states including Texas.

The company enjoyed a rush of global popularity throughout the summer when international World Cup fans posted their experiences visiting Buc-ee's on social media. They're currently involved in a high-profile trademark infringement lawsuit.

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Horseshoe Bay Resort courts padel craze with $10M addition in Hill Country

Renderings courtesy of Horseshoe Bay Resort

The clubhouse will give players a place to gather and watch matches between rounds of tennis, pickleball, or padel.

Horseshoe Bay Resort, a sprawling lakeside destination in the Texas Hill Country about 215 miles south of Dallas, is going all in on the padel craze. The resort has broken ground on a $10 million racquet sports expansion that will include four dedicated padel courts and a new clubhouse by summer 2027.

According to a release, the expansion will include a 6,690-square-foot Racquet Sports Clubhouse with indoor and covered outdoor gathering areas. It will join the resort’s existing 12 tennis courts — six hard courts and six red clay courts — and 14 dedicated pickleball courts.

Padel combines elements of tennis and racquetball, using a net and tennis-style scoring on a smaller, enclosed court where the glass walls remain in play.

“Padel is experiencing explosive growth, and we’re excited our resort owners are going all-in on the specialized, enclosed glass-and-mesh courts required for dedicated padel play,” says Israel Castillo, the resort’s director of racquet sports, in the release.

The clubhouse will include a central lounge overlooking the courts, along with reception, retail, and additional gathering spaces. Planned furnishings include soft seating, high-top tables, televisions, and a counter running along a wall of windows facing the courts.

A 2,632-square-foot covered outdoor lounge will give spectators another place to watch matches. The clubhouse will also sell athletic clothing, footwear, equipment, and accessories, plus chef-prepared grab-and-go food, sports drinks, and ready-to-drink cocktails.

The new facilities will complement the resort’s Mouratoglou Tennis Center, an instructional program affiliated with Patrick Mouratoglou, the longtime former coach of Serena Williams. The Horseshoe Bay center offers private and group lessons, clinics, and camps led by coaches trained in Mouratoglou’s teaching method.

A rendering shows the exterior patio planned for Horseshoe Bay Resort’s new racquet clubhouse.Renderings courtesy of Horseshoe Bay Resort

Horseshoe Bay dates to the early 1970s, when developers began transforming ranchland along Lake LBJ into a resort community. Its original Slick Rock golf course opened in 1972 and later helped revive the Texas State Open. More recently, the resort served as the setting for the return of Golf Channel’s golf competition series “Big Break.”

The resort’s annual events include Balloons Over Horseshoe Bay Resort in April, Beer by the Bay in August, and the Wine, Dine & Jazz Festival in November. It occupies more than 7,000 acres along Lake LBJ and also offers golf courses, a marina, a spa, hotel rooms, villas, and lakeside condos.

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