Wagon Wheel Garden & Pet, the iconic store known for its playful “Pick Up Chicks Here” sign on the way to the Homer Spit, celebrated its 50th anniversary last Friday. A balloon arch decorated the entrance to the rustic wooden store, and visitors browsed the gardens looking for deals on flowers, vegetable starts, and pet and stock feed.

Barb and Woody Walker bought the Wagon Wheel Ranch on Ocean Drive in 1972 from Pete Lentz, and using lumber from Randal and Spek Jones, built a little store with no insulation and a wood stove for heat. Barb Walker expanded the store to include farm feed and sold chicks and garden bedding plants. Current owner Steven Veldstra worked for Walker in the 1980s for almost 13 years, when he quit to start his landscaping business. He sold his business in 2015 and with his wife Stacyey took over “the reins of the wagon,” as the website says, in May of 2015.

Last Friday’s celebration had free food and drinks, and invited people to sign a poster for Barb Walker, who still lives on the premises. A scrapbook featured photos of the Wagon Wheel over the years.

The Wagon Wheel is open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Reach Michael Armstrong at marmstrong@homernews.com.

People signed a card for Wagon Wheel Garden & Pet founder Barb Walker at the 50th anniversary celebration of the iconic Homer store on Friday, June 10, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)