FAYETTE COUNTY, Tenn. — Heavy rain Wednesday didn't spoil the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Buc-ee's travel center in Gallaway, about 15 miles northeast of Memphis. The location at Interstate 40 and Highway 196 promises to draw thousands of visitors a day when it opens in summer, 2026.                Buc-ee's founder Arch "Beaver" Aplin made his way from Texas for the ceremony. "Our job at Buc-ee's is to stop the people coming up and down that interstate and stop them right here in Gallaway, Tennessee. That's what we'll work hard to do," Aplin said. "We love this interstate. Interstate 40's been good to us in Tennessee so far and we expect it will be here, as well." Construction to begin soon for Buc-ee’s, a ‘Disneyland’ on I-40 Buc-ee's founder Arch "Beaver" Aplin But heavy rain throughout the morning turned the future Buc-ee's site into a mud bog, keeping festivities under a tent. However exictement among local and state leaders remained bright. "What a great day. I could smell the brisket driving up here," said state Sen. Page Walley. Fayette County Mayor Skip Taylor said the Buc-ee's will bring hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales tax and property taxes. "It's going to be a driver for this region here. This interchange is just begging to have something developed here." Buc-ee’s planned in West Memphis, Arkansas The 74,000-square-foot Buc-ee's in Gallaway will be the third for Tennessee, and will employ more than 200 full-time employees. "The pay scale is above and beyond most anything in the community," Aplin said.     Fayette County resident Annette Carter admits Buc-ee's changed her life.        "I done called friends, family from out of town saying, 'Guess what, we getting a Buc-ee's'," Carter said. "My husband always say, 'I go in with a heavy pocket but I come out with a very light pocket cause we love everything at Buc-ee's, especially the brisket. Oh my god they are the best." Buc-ee's also recently announced plans for a location in West Memphis, Arkansas.