The Williams family, led by Tyler Williams, owns more than 500 acres on both sides of Interstate 40 between Banner and Richland roads. The proposed travel center would occupy land at the northwest corner of I-40 and Cimarron Road, in the middle of the family’s holdings. The family did not respond to requests for comment about its plans for the property or the area’s future.

Oklahoma City has approved $10 million toward rebuilding the I-40 and Cimarron Road interchange, and on Oct. 13 the City Council approved another $12 million for water and sewer lines. The interchange work is estimated to cost $25 million, while up to $32 million more could go toward roads and utilities. Kenton Tsoodle, president of the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, estimates state and city investment in the area will reach $57 million, with an additional $10 million from the Federal Highway Administration.

Tsoodle said the infrastructure would serve more than the travel center, including a city-owned employment site near C.E. Page Airport. The Williams family previously sold Oklahoma City land for much of a planned 1,000-acre employment reserve around the airport for $17 million.

But some council members and residents say extending infrastructure to the site could enable housing and commercial projects across currently rural land — and leave the city responsible for additional roads, drainage, parks and emergency services.

Ward 2 Council Member James Cooper and Ward 6 Councilwoman JoBeth Hamon voted against the interchange funding. Ward 3 Councilwoman Katrina Avers, whose district includes the site, opposed the later $12 million package. Avers said utility access could remove a barrier to development proposals that had been limited by the lack of water and sewer service.

The city estimates Buc-ee’s would generate about $1.03 million in annual sales taxes. Roughly $562,500 would go to the general fund and $187,500 to public safety, with the rest directed to dedicated zoo and temporary MAPS taxes. Avers said the public safety revenue would not come close to paying for a police station or meeting the area’s road and drainage needs. The closest police stations are about 20 miles away, and the travel center is expected to draw an estimated 100,000 visitors a week.

Buc-ee’s real estate development director, Stan Beard, told council members that the company estimates three-quarters of the store’s sales taxes would come from visitors traveling from more than 30 to 40 miles away. He agreed that development would follow the project, saying the company has often become a catalyst for nearby growth.

The city’s experience could resemble Melissa, Texas, where a Buc-ee’s opened in 2019 amid farmland and subsequent development brought retail, housing and new roads. Melissa’s population rose from 13,901 in 2020 to 29,969 in 2025, according to census figures. Former councilwoman Shannon Sweat said local officials tried to invest ahead of that growth, including in infrastructure and schools.

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt has argued that development in the area is likely whether or not Buc-ee’s is built. “If there’s a parcel of land, it will someday be developed,” he told council members, pointing to the city’s continued population growth.

For nearby farmers, the prospect is less welcome. Mark Rubes, whose family has farmed in the area for decades, said the development could bring traffic and public-service demands to a place where families have worked the land for generations. He also questioned whether the travel center could have been located near an existing interchange with more infrastructure, such as El Reno.

Farmer Debra Brown said the planned utility spending feels at odds with Oklahoma City’s comprehensive plan, which designated some land for agricultural preservation. Residents chose the area for its rural character, she said, and feel left out of decisions that could reshape it.

The council votes and the proposed store point toward a broader choice for Oklahoma City: how to pay for growth at its far western edge, and how to balance new development with farms, public services and the needs of neighborhoods elsewhere in the city.