Past Passport

Past Passport

Why America Built a 120-Pump Gas Station

Blame a 1787 essay.

Joseph Pickett's avatar
Joseph Pickett
Jul 09, 2026
∙ Paid
A Buc-ee's billboard on I-40 near Adrian, Texas. It advertises some stores more than a thousand miles ahead of the exit.

I drive 1,448 miles to Ohio four times a year.

Buc-ee’s is part of my ritual.

The billboards start a thousand miles out. The sign is visible a mile away, and I pull in with 200 other cars, all headed for the same 120 pumps.

Buc-ee’s is America in one highway exit:

Give free people room, and they build BIG.

Seventy-two spotless toilet stalls. Seventy-five thousand square feet. Fresh brisket. Cheap gas. Beaver Nuggets.

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Joseph Pickett.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 Past Passport · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture