Wisconsin · Location Watch
Buc-ee’s DeForest, Wisconsin: Why the “First Wisconsin Buc-ee’s” Isn’t First Anymore
DeForest was supposed to make history as Wisconsin’s very first Buc-ee’s. Instead, a stalled fight over who pays for a $17 million interchange has left the project sitting on the shelf — while another Wisconsin city quietly passed it by.
interchange funding — per DeForest
village officials
Is Buc-ee’s Still Coming to DeForest?
Officially, yes — Buc-ee’s has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to the DeForest site. Practically, though, the project has been stuck for more than two years, and as of the most recent update from the Village of DeForest, it’s flatly described as “on hold pending efforts to obtain additional funding” for road improvements. The conditional-use permit Buc-ee’s originally received has already expired, meaning a brand-new permit and site plan process will be required before anything can move forward.
This is worth knowing up front: DeForest was Wisconsin’s first announced Buc-ee’s, unveiled back in early 2023. But it will very likely not be Wisconsin’s first Buc-ee’s to actually open.
Related: Wisconsin’s first completed Buc-ee’s is now expected in Oak Creek, targeting an early 2027 opening. See our full Buc-ee’s Oak Creek, Wisconsin guide for the details on that project.
Is DeForest Stalled : A Fight Over an Interchange
The holdup isn’t Buc-ee’s cold feet — it’s a specific, unresolved disagreement over infrastructure money. A traffic impact analysis found that the intersection of Highway V and the I-39/90/94 interchange near the proposed site would need to be rebuilt into a diverging diamond interchange to safely handle the extra traffic. That upgrade was originally estimated at $15.1 million; as of early 2026, the estimate had climbed to $16.9 million.
Buc-ee’s agreed early on to cover its proportional share of the impact — about 53.7%, or roughly $8.1 million — but that still leaves millions of dollars the Village of DeForest, Dane County, or the state of Wisconsin would need to fund. The village’s property value is already at the state-imposed limit for its Tax Incremental Finance District, which rules out DeForest’s usual funding tool. Officials have been lobbying the state Legislature for help ever since, and while Wisconsin’s budget allocated $4 million toward the project, that still leaves a gap of several million dollars unresolved.
Pro Tip: If you see a headline saying DeForest “approved” or “moved forward” on Buc-ee’s, check the date carefully — most of that coverage refers to the original 2023 conditional-use permit, which has since expired. As of 2026, the project needs to restart parts of its approval process once funding is actually secured.
How the Project Got Here
Feb.–March 2023
Buc-ee’s announces plans for its first Wisconsin location in DeForest, north of Madison on the I-90 route to the Wisconsin Dells.
April 2023
Buc-ee’s purchases the DeForest site for $4.2 million, with construction anticipated to start in 2024.
2023
A conditional-use permit is granted, but a traffic study flags the need for a $15.1 million diverging diamond interchange rebuild.
2024
Cost-sharing talks between Buc-ee’s and the village stall; the anticipated 2024 groundbreaking does not happen.
January 2025
Buc-ee’s announces a second, separate Wisconsin project in Oak Creek — explicitly described as additional to DeForest, not a replacement.
May 2025
Oak Creek’s City Council approves its Buc-ee’s, officially becoming the project positioned to be Wisconsin’s first completed store.
Early 2026
The interchange cost estimate rises to $16.9 million; DeForest’s conditional-use permit has expired; the project remains on hold pending funding.
What Was Planned for the Site
Assuming funding is eventually resolved, the DeForest concept plan called for a roughly 74,000-to-75,000-square-foot travel center at the Highway V and Highway I intersection, with 120 fueling positions under two large canopies, 613 parking spaces (six for large vehicles), and 20 EV charging stations. Village officials have said the project would bring over 200 jobs and a significant boost to property and sales tax revenue for the area.
Pro Tip: DeForest posts project updates on its own “Engage DeForest” development page, which tends to be more current than most news coverage. It’s the best place to check before assuming anything has changed.
Where’s the Nearest Buc-ee’s to Wisconsin Right Now?
There’s no open Buc-ee’s in Wisconsin yet, and won’t be until at least early 2027 in Oak Creek. Today, the closest operating Buc-ee’s to the state is in Smiths Grove, Kentucky — nearly 500 miles away, making Wisconsin one of the longer waits of any state currently in Buc-ee’s expansion plans.
DeForest (This Project)
Announced first, in 2023. Stuck on interchange funding since 2024. No construction date. Permit expired.
Frequently Asked Question’s
The Bottom Line
DeForest got here first, but funding — not enthusiasm — has kept it from breaking ground. Until DeForest, Dane County, and the state figure out how to cover the remaining interchange costs, there’s no construction timeline to give. If you want to know when Wisconsin actually gets its first Buc-ee’s, Oak Creek is the project to watch — DeForest may still happen, just later, and on its own schedule.