The beginnings of the present-day Honeyville was the product and ingenuity of Vernon Culhane, who was nicknamed “The Falfa Honey Man.”
The business now is owned by Danny Culhane, his wife, Sheree, and son Kevin. Danny Culhane took over the family business from his father in 1974. The Culhanes purchased Honeyville, which was founded in 1918, from the Mayer family in 1986.
“We’ve sold honey continuously since 1925,” Culhane said.
However, it hasn’t always been easy. Some of the cons of being located in a remote location are the availability of finding jars, packaging and other raw materials, he said. It’s not like Denver where you can go to another warehouse and pick up materials, he said.
Yet, the Culhane family has been in Durango for five generations, and the business continues to thrive. There’s a uniqueness to being in business in the area, Culhane said; Durango is seen as both a tourist destination and wholesome.
Honeyville will expand into a 12,500-square-foot building this summer, located behind their current facility. The company will open its Honey House Distillery to make a Colorado Honey Whiskey and a line of vodkas, Culhane said.
Though Honeyville has big plans, it is deeply rooted in Durango and will remain so.
“We don’t have any real plans to become a national business,” he said.
The company’s niche is in specialty items and dealing directly with individuals.
vguthrie@durangoherald.com
An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the founders of Honeyville.
