AS Buc-ee’s has opened its largest store in the country, fans of the popular gas station are in an uproar over the big changes made to its mascot.
Since first opening in Clute, Texas in 1982, Buc-ee’s has expanded throughout the southern United States, meeting every gas and convenience need.
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The network can be found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Colorado, Virginia and Mississippi.
Gas station fans can expect to find similar convenience store layouts no matter where they are purchasing their favorite barbecue snacks and treats.
Most notably, visitors can look forward to the smiling bronze statue of Bucky the Beaver, Buc-ee’s mascot.
Typically, this friendly statue can be found with its arms wide open, wearing a baseball cap and shoes.
However, eagle-eyed fans have noticed some important changes to the statue.
On a video posted on TikTokone user shared side-by-side images of the original and updated statue that have been seen in several locations, including the newest station opening in Luling, Texas.
The newer statue, although wearing the cap and arms wide open like the original, is no longer wearing shoes and now appears to be wearing a Buc-ee t-shirt.
His eyes are also shaped differently and his nose is much larger.
Likewise, the statue’s teeth appear to have grown.
His shirt, hat, and tongue also appear to have been colored red.
Fans have also claimed that the newer statue appears to be thinner.
Hundreds of TikTok users flooded the video’s comments section, accusing the company of putting the beaver on Ozempic, a medication used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes that can cause rapid weight loss.
“The enchantment has been FIXED,” one user said of the new statue.
“I’M GOING TO CRY WHY THEY DO THIS,” wrote another.
“It’s better if it’s just the new ones so you can know which seasons aren’t the classics,” added a third.
There was a cartoon character long before my time, a toothpaste commercial, and he was Bucky Beaver. So this guy always called me Bucky Beaver growing up.
Arc ‘Castor’ Aplin III
The mascot was created by Buc-ee founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin III when he and Don Wasek started the gas station chain.
“Beaver was my nickname; my mother called me that when I was born”, Aplin told CBS News in 2022.
“There was a cartoon character long before my time, a toothpaste commercial, and he was Bucky Beaver. So this guy always called me Bucky Beaver growing up.”
It was not immediately clear how many locations will feature the new statue, or whether it will replace the other bronze beaver statues that fans have come to love.
However, photos reveal that the new version of Bucky was installed outside the newly opened, record-breaking venue.
The store, which opened earlier this month, spans more than 75,000 square feet and has 120 gas pumps available for use.
It was built on the site of a 21-year-old location that was known as the company’s “First Family Travel Center.”
Its opening brings the number of travel centers in the Lone Star State to a total of 49.
A Buc-ee representative did not immediately respond to US Sun’s request for comment.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
