Dolly Parton didn’t waste the opportunity to have a little fun at Buc-ee’s expense as she celebrated the opening of her new travel stop, which, in turn, ignited comparisons between the two brands.
The country music icon officially opened Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee, on June 24, making it one of only a handful of the “Jolene” singer’s public appearances this year. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Parton joked about why she decided to enter the travel stop business.
“I’m sure some of you want to know why I wanted a truck stop,” Parton told the crowd. “Well, I couldn’t leave it to beavers,” she said, drawing laughs with a playful reference to Buc-ee’s famous mascot.
Here’s how Dolly Parton’s new Tennessean Travel Stop compares with Buc-ee’s, from the amenities each offers to where travelers can find them across the country.
Located off Interstate 65 at Exit 22 in Cornersville, about 60 miles south of Nashville, Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop serves as the flagship location for a new chain created through a partnership between Parton, her longtime manager Danny Nozell and Gregory H. Sachs, owner of the Tennessean Travel Stop brand.
“I have spent the bulk of my life on the road, and more specifically on a bus,” Parton said when the project was announced. “All the years spent visiting greasy spoon cafes, truck stops and roadside pit stops have given me an understanding of what travelers desire on the road.”
Inspired by those experiences, the travel center features fuel stations for both passenger vehicles and commercial trucks, truck parking, a dedicated truckers’ lounge, dining options, shopping, live entertainment and Tennessee-themed hospitality. Visitors can also stop for DLY BBQ and a “Cup of Ambition” coffee inspired by Parton’s hit song “9 to 5.”
According to the company, the travel stops were created to reimagine “what a roadside stop can be for truck drivers, families, and travelers of all kinds.”
Although both brands cater to highway travelers, Buc-ee’s has taken a different approach.
The Texas-based chain is known for its massive travel centers, fresh barbecue, bakery items, jerky, Beaver Nuggets and extensive selection of branded merchandise. It is also famous for its strict policy prohibiting tractor-trailers and most commercial vehicles with trailers from parking at its locations.
Industry observers have noted that the policy helps Buc-ee’s maximize parking space for passenger vehicles and supports its business model, which relies on high customer volumes, as they often stop to shop for food, snacks and merchandise in addition to fuel.
That stands in contrast to Dolly Parton’s travel stop, which was specifically designed with commercial truck drivers in mind, as it includes dedicated fueling areas, parking and amenities alongside services for everyday travelers.
For now, Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop operates a single location in Cornersville, Tennessee, though it has been introduced as the flagship for a new chain.
Buc-ee’s has grown from its Texas roots into a multistate chain with locations across Texas, Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The company continues to expand, with several additional stores planned in the coming years.
Per the company’s website, Buc-ee’s is planning openings for:
Contributing: James Powel & Saleen Martin/ USA TODAY
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or on X @athompsonUSAT.