HARRISON COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – The first Buc-ee’s in Mississippi opened on June 9 to a lot of fanfare.

“It’s amazing. I love being able to come up here 15 minutes from my house, instead of having to drive one hour and something over to Foley. So, it’s great to have this here now,” said Ava Graham, a customer.

The travel center is located off of Interstate 10 and is one of the largest in the nation. It spans 74,000-square feet, 126 gas pumps, 24 EV charging stations and 165 toilets. It’s an ideal stop for travelers heading to the beach, coastal casinos or nearby New Orleans.

The big draw on Monday was the food. Crowded lined up for brisket, fudge and Beaver Nuggets.

Beyond the buzz, Buc-ee’s is also a boost to the local economy, creating more than 200 full time jobs.

“It’s going to be a great thing here for the people of Hancock and Harrison County, for sure. We definitely needed just a little bit of freshness when it comes to the job market here. So, this is a great thing,” said one customer.

The travel center still has job openings for cashiers, deli workers, maintenance staff and more.