Photos: Scenes from Totality at Buc-ee's

Driving toward totality this morning there were signs of a flop. With few cars on the road, where was everyone?

People in Ennis, about an hour south of Dallas and square in the path of totality, had long prepared for this day. Some businesses throughout the small city were selling parking spots, much like in Arlington before a Cowboys game. Kids from a church youth group were standing near the highway holding signs, some asking for a honk to at least acknowledge them. Around 10 a.m. they hadn't any takers for a $20 parking spot and a free pair of glasses. They did have a taco stand in the back, so maybe that would lure some passersby in.  Traffic through North Texas, and toward the path of totality was lighter than normal Monday morning, begging the question: Who is — as the TxDot signs over highways suggested this weekend — arriving early, staying put and leaving late?

Then, there's Buc-ee's: a Texas-born symbol of roadside capitalism via clean restrooms, a great cross-section of America and an unofficial state ambassador.  Cars hawked for empty spots at the Buc-ee's in Ennis around 10:30 a.m. When there were no more, people got creative parking anywhere. More than two dozen cars lined up on the dead-end street behind the convenience store just off Interstate 35 East. The scene was like a Cowboys or Rangers game with families tailgating with coolers at their feet. Kids were throwing a Frisbee in a field with bluebonnets and others played whiffle ball. A checkout clerk said the tailgating chairs and ice were hot items.
Signs around the store warned that during totality, the lights in the parking lot would not be turned on.

The Zurcher family of four — David, Gina, Joshua and Catie — drove in from Jacksonville, Florida, and tailgated on the east side of a store. A large black box in the back of their minivan held a telescope, while other boxes had road trip snacks, although they'd already made several trips through the store. They were all wearing matching eclipse 2024 shirts.

They stayed in Huntsville last night and were headed to the Walmart in Ennis but took a detour.

"As we're coming up we saw the sign for Buc-ee's and we said, 'Oh Buc-ee's is better,'" David says.
He says the trip so far had been beautiful, as the sun played hide and seek behind mostly cloudy skies overhead.

"It's a fun road trip," he says on why they drove all the way to Texas. "We did the one in 2017 up in Tennessee. I've always been into astronomy. It's just always been a thing for me."

"As soon as totality is done, we're driving her [his daughter] to Dallas-Fort Worth and she's flying back to college. Then the three of us are driving back to Florida," he says.

Oscar Vega, who lives in Dallas, saw an eclipse in El Salvador in 1991. He and his family picnicked across the road near an open field. Several white Buc-ee's bags were scattered across a blanket. They had an umbrella for intermittent shade.
When asked why they chose Buc-ee's, Vega said, "Good food! And convenient restrooms, and with kids, we need a place where they can run around."

They took off work and pulled the kids out of the school to make sure they were able to view it safely (with glasses) and, of course, with good snacks.