The Buzz Begins: How Honey Fly Came to Life
Updated: Aug 12
It didn’t start with a business plan. It started with a question.
Jon and I had been spending our weekends driving the backroads of Wyoming, chasing a simple dream: finding a cabin. A place where our family could fish, unplug, and just be—away from schedules, away from noise, away from the constant motion of raising boys who always had somewhere to be.
Somewhere along those miles, between stretches of sagebrush and mountain views, the conversation shifted.
“What are we going to do when the boys graduate?”
Jon’s answer came easy—he wants to fish. Mine? I want to read.
But then came the real question: what are we going to do together?
“Let’s start a bug shop.”
It sounded a little wild at first—but also… exactly right.
We live in Riverton. A river town. A fishing town. And somehow, there wasn’t a single dedicated fly shop. That didn’t sit right with us. Not when we had friends who guide, not when we’re surrounded by water, not when this lifestyle is such a huge part of who we are.
So we said it out loud: Let’s do it.
The Building That Started It All
In 2022, Jon found a building. He didn’t overthink it. We approached his parents, and they believed in the vision enough to jump in alongside us as partners. What started as an idea between Jon and me quickly became something bigger—a true family venture. The day we closed, he took the boys and me to see it. What had been hiding on Main Street all this time wasn’t polished or pretty—it was raw, worn, layered with history. And somehow, we could all see it: the potential.
That summer, we got to work. We tore down walls. Dropped ceilings. Filled five shipping containers with debris. Every layer we peeled back told a story—oil stains from its days as a car dealership, remnants of Ships Tavern wallpaper, old electrical parts tucked away like forgotten artifacts. Piece by piece, it became something else. Eventually, it became a shell.
And then… it sat.
HoneyFly Co's Building Progress
Alaska Changed Everything
Later that year, we went to Alaska for Jon’s 40th birthday. It was November—cold, dark, and beautiful in that way only Alaska can be. We spotted a small place with a fire burning outside and decided to stop in. Inside, everything shifted.
It was a meadery.
I’ve always loved mead—but this was different. It was on tap. It was cold. And suddenly, I realized something I hadn’t before:
There’s more than one way to drink mead. And even more ways to make it.
At its core, it’s simple: you just need honey.
And as it turns out… we know a guy.
We called my uncle, Mike Ibach.
“Let’s make mead.”
Just like that, Honey Fly became more than a fly shop.
The Long Road to “Yes”
Around that same time, our community introduced something incredible: a half-cent economic development fund—money voted on by the people to support new businesses and bring life back into our town.
We applied.
Denied.
We regrouped. Added more detail. Refined the vision.
Applied again.
Denied.
Each round took a full quarter. What felt like a simple “yes” turned into a year-long process of patience, persistence, and proving that this idea—our idea—was worth believing in.
Then in 2024, it happened.
The MOVE committee, backed by the county commissioners, said yes.
$164,000.
We were ecstatic.
It was time to stop dreaming and start building.
Bringing H.F.C. to Life
Real plans took nine months.
By 2025, everything was in motion.
New plumbing lines cut through the building. An addition built out back for the meadery—what we now call The Hive.
And then came the fun part: deciding what else this place would be.
Because Honey Fly was never meant to be just one thing.
It’s Jon’s passion for the outdoors—our fly shop, rooted in rivers and “happy & healthy” living.
But it’s also more.
It’s walking with goats through the mountains, letting them carry your pack while you soak in Wyoming’s beauty.
It’s art and music—aka Jon Sr. —brought to life by his vision in a space that invites creativity.
It’s an outdoor gathering place, where Tamma can create a secret garden right on Main Street.
It’s home goods, dirty sodas, a puzzle always in progress, and a book waiting for someone to pick it up.
It’s everything we’ve loved in other places—brought back home and woven together into something uniquely ours.
A Place to Gather
At its heart, Honey Fly isn’t just a business.
It’s a place.
A place where Jon and the boys can head out to explore rivers and mountains…and where I’ll be—holding down home base.
Hosting. Gathering. Cheering.
We’ll have County 10 watch parties, community events, and moments that bring people together in ways that feel natural and needed.
Because that’s what this town deserves.
Something great. Something evolving. Something for everyone.
A place that keeps people coming back—not just for what it is, but for how it feels.
Let’s Go, Riverton
This whole journey started with a cabin search.
It turned into a fly shop. Then a meadery. Then something we still can’t quite fit into a single definition.
And maybe that’s the point.
Honey Fly is a reflection of us—our family, our passions, our community, and the belief that small towns can dream big.
We’re building something here. Together.
And we can’t wait to share it with you.
Let’s go, Riverton.
Our Colony: The Hive is a member of Honey Fly Company, a unified family of brands dedicated to nature and community. Our colony includes The Hive (Mead), Three Goatsmen (Wyoming Adventures), Bee Flat Entertainment (Live Music), River Town Merch (Gear & Apparel), Honeyhole Studio (Art Gallery), The Buzz (Community Events), and Honey Home (Goods & Clothing).