Dawg Gone Bees, LLC: A Family Legacy of Honey and Beekeeping
Dawg Gone Bees, LLC is a proud family-owned and operated business that began in 2009 as a small honey stand. Over the years, it has blossomed into a multi-location operation offering a diverse range of homemade honey and bee products, including mead—the world’s oldest alcoholic beverage. As the only local store dedicated solely to honeybees and their products, Dawg Gone Bees offers raw honey, fruit spreads, beeswax candles, bath and body items, BEES-wrap, honey crackle popcorn, granola, puppy treats, gift boxes, and even live honeybee orders. We also feature locally made items like pottery and jewelry. This year, we’re excited to expand our offerings to include beekeeping equipment, locally made complete colony setups, and essential supplies like smokers and head veils.
A Beekeeping Heritage
Our roots in beekeeping trace back to the 1870s with George Wesley. His grandson Floyd later started his own apiary, passing his knowledge down to his grandson Hal, who is now the head beekeeper at Dawg Gone Bees. With over 30 years of hands-on experience, Hal is always ready to offer advice and guidance to local beekeepers.
The Story Behind the Name
When Hal first began working with bees, he tried bringing along his best friend, Penny, a chocolate Labrador. Unfortunately, Penny didn’t take to the bees, and she had to stay home. Each time Hal left, Penny sulked, prompting his wife, Jacki, to say, “Those dawg gone bees!” When Jacki needed a name for their growing business, the phrase stuck, and Dawg Gone Bees was born.
A Family Affair
As Jacki developed more products to sell alongside the honey, the business expanded. Soon, her mother and daughter joined in, creating their own products to support Dawg Gone Bees. True to Grandpa Wesley’s teachings, we treat our hives naturally, avoiding chemicals, antibiotics, and artificial feeding with corn syrup or sugar. This commitment ensures our honey remains pure, and all our products reflect our dedication to quality and natural ingredients.
Introducing Mead: A New Chapter
Our most exciting expansion yet is our line of mead! After extensive trial and error, we’ve perfected a recipe we’re thrilled to share. Mead, an ancient alcoholic beverage made from honey, predates wine and was famously enjoyed by Vikings and Robin Hood’s Friar Tuck. Our mead showcases the unique flavors of our honey, combined with fruits and spices, to create a range of varieties from semi-dry to sweet.
At Dawg Gone Bees, we’re more than a business—we’re a family preserving a tradition of beekeeping and crafting exceptional honey-based products. Come join us and taste the difference that dedication and family pride can make!