The world’s smallest Buc-ee’s, which disappeared in 2022, reappears in this Texas town

They say everything’s bigger in Texas but this Buc-ee’s is drawing attention for the opposite reason.

An art installation deemed the “World’s Tiniest Buc-ee’s” has reappeared on the roadside along Highway 90 in Texas between Sanderson and Marathon.

Passersby won’t be able to fuel up or buy beaver nuggets or beef jerky because the building isn’t an operational Buc-ee’s convenience store. However, it’s a popular photo opportunity for travelers.

The small stone building comprised of bricks, a small door and the familiar Buc-ee’s beaver logo that popped up in recent days is a reproduction of the miniature Buc-ee’s that was in the same spot in April 2022 but mysteriously disappeared days after it was first spotted, the Midland Reporter-Telegram reported.

A plaque resembling a historical marker next to the installation reads: “Originally established April 1st, 2022, this Bucees location served the area faithly despite its lack of operating hours, bathrooms, employees or a home decor section. It was an important content stop for weary Instagram Influencers and other travelers on the famous Marfa trail. A shift to e-commerce, rising gas prices and a worldwide Beaver Nugget shortage forced the location to close on April 4, 2022. In 2023, a replica of the original Tiny Bucees was built on the site. To this day it continues to draw crowds and litigation.”

The new “store” received a warm welcome from locals with the Sanderson tourism Instagram page posting a photo with the caption, “Somebody is backkkk.... Welcome back Sanderson Buc-ee’s, it’s good to have you home.”

The Visit Sanderson creator and account manager Keirstin Pratt told The Dallas Morning News she hopes the mini Buc-ee’s will bring more people through the area.

“I hope that this good humor art installation will inspire travelers to take the long route instead of I-10,” she said. “There’s so much to see on Highway 90 and so much is missed. I hope people enjoy the Buc-ee’s but also the beauty of Far West Texas.”

The artist, who has remained anonymous, told Texas Monthly in April 2022 that the teeny Buc-ee’s is a play off the nearby Prada Marfa installation.

“The artist described the new piece (in April 2022) as ‘a light-hearted jab at the self-important Prada store crowd and another light-hearted jab at Walmart/gas station hybrids and America’s propensity for ever-expanding excess,’” the magazine story reads.

After the first installation disappeared the artist playfully told the magazine “the shift to e-commerce and higher gas prices probably forced it to close.”

Buc-ee’s seems amendable to keeping the installation around.

“Leadership at Buc-ee’s is unaware of who created the tourist attraction, but are delightfully amused,” a news release from the company said. “Having made its surprising reappearance without notice, the team behind the world’s cleanest bathrooms, freshest food and friendliest beaver leapt into action.”

A cleaning crew was immediately dispatched to the “nugget-sized” Buc-ee’s, the company’s general counsel, Jeff Nadalo, said in the statement.

“The team hopes, however, that the image of the grinning beaver mascot will be a beacon of joy for West Texans who have not yet experienced the delight of an actual Buc-ee’s travel station,” the release said.

It’s unclear if this second version of the “World’s Tiniest Buc-ee’s” — more than a 450-mile drive from downtown Dallas — is here to stay or will vanish again in the night.