Benton Buc-ee's deal 'looking very good' to close within weeks

BENTON, Ark. – A Buc-ee’s is likely on the horizon for Benton after a proposal for a new price for land in exchange for other benefits to the city.

The city's Advertising and Promotions Commission suggested that Mayor Tom Farmer lower the price the city had earlier agreed to sell the property for to the Texas company. The drop from $2.25 million to $800,000 would come in exchange for giving the city permanent use and access to a road that Buc-ee's would build that the city will also need.

Along the edge of the 29 acres along Exit 114 of I-30 Southbound is an industrial road for heavy equipment which would border Benton's planned RV park. A&P Commission Chairman Bill Eldridge said he saw that as an opportunity.

"We were going to have to build the road over here, and it would take a substantial money to do that,” Eldridge explained. “Why don't we work with them on their private drive to gain permanent access so that our RVers can come through?”

The Buc-ee's Travel Center would tie for their largest location ever built with a 75,000 square feet store, over 100 pumps, and 225 jobs. Dinett...