From Barrel Hoops to a Booming Business
In 1910, we began producing patented wooden barrel hoops, becoming a vital part of America’s shipping infrastructure. During the Great Depression locals arrived with logs in Model T’s just to earn enough for bread. Our mill stayed open, providing work, hope, and stability.
After the Great Flood of 1927, we relocated to higher ground in Bunkie, Louisiana. Employees moved with us. Loyalty was everything, and still is.
Resilient Through War, Recession, and Reinvention
As America changed, so did we. From slack barrels to kiln-dried furniture parts, and eventually to industrial pallets and crates, we kept innovating. We added dry kilns in the 1950s. Introduced pallet production in the '70s. And modernized operations with computerized systems by the '90s.
From handwritten ledgers to fax machines, to email, we’ve adapted without losing sight of our values.
We've manufactured products for the aerospace, oil & gas, food, and industrial sectors, including crates for parts of the Space Shuttle fuselage. We’ve supported major companies while staying true to our small-town roots, offering the kind of personalized service you can only get from a family business.
The Fire That Tested and Proved Us
In 2019, a fire destroyed our 300,000 sq. ft. production plant. It was a gut-wrenching moment, the kind that could have ended everything. But within hours, our employees, neighbors, vendors, and community showed up to help to build back newer and stronger.
People brought coffee, bulldozers, power equipment, even breakfast. Firefighters, friends, and customers all came together to support us. We were back in motion before the smoke had cleared.
It wasn’t just a rebuild. It was a rebirth. A reminder that Bunkie Wood Products isn’t just a company, it’s a family tradition, a community effort, and a living legacy of resilience.
Still Proudly Serving. Still Proudly Here.
Today, under the leadership of the fifth generation, we continue to produce high-quality wooden pallets, crates, and industrial products, sourcing local Southern Yellow Pine and hardwoods to deliver dependable solutions across the U.S.
We combine generational wisdom with modern innovation, and we’re proud to say: we’re just getting started.
