Today we went into Homer and were amazed at its growth. The population in 1974 was around 2,000. Today it is 5,551. Over 3.500 people have moved to this area in the last 35 years. McDonald’s, the first fast food chain, was built in 1983. There was a big battle as to whether it could have the arches. The arches lost. In 1986 they built the bypass that circumvents the old downtown area and takes you right to the spit. In addition, stores, shops, supermarkets, hospitals, clinics, and anything else you can think of have taken over the town. We drove to the top of the bluff where our cabin was and all we saw were multi million dollar houses overlooking a spectacular view. That’s one thing about Homer, the view is still spectacular with Katchemak Bay surrounded by snow-capped mountains and glaciers. Fishing is still one of its main industries but tourism is quickly taking over. The spit, which juts out 4.5 miles from Homer, is now cluttered with gift shops, restaurants, condos, camp grounds, fishing charters, and bars. We drove the length of the spit and the only thing that I wanted to take photos of, besides the eagles, were the old abandoned fishing boats. All the roads on the bluff overlooking the bay are paved and there are streets and houses everywhere.

View of Katchemak Bay from the top of the bluff where our cabin used to be

Abandoned boat on Homer Spit

Eagle with its catch on Homer Spit

Go to  That 70’s Blog and scroll down to the Homer, Alaska section and the letter to my mother dated January  12, 1975 to get a good picture of our life then and of the town of Homer.