As Steve Hoke was leaving Little Buffalo State Park on Monday after removing 38 gnome homes, he met a man and his daughter.

The 7-year-old girl had just finished her last chemo treatment. Her dad asked what she wanted to do - she said she wanted to see in person the gnome houses that she had seen on Facebook.

Hoke was pulling a garden wagon full of the 38 gnome houses that since early December have been a wildly popular attraction along the trails of the state park in Juniata and Centre townships in Perry County.

Hoke offered her a gnome house.

Instead, she wanted the tiny Tinker Bell that had adorned the balcony of one of the homes along Fisherman's Trail.

"That has kind of been the draw. It has just been a wonderful thing. We have seen so many kids out there," Hoke said.

Hoke walks daily at Little Buffalo but Monday was more than a walk in the park.

The gnome houses had been evicted by park management and needed to be removed by Feb. 29.

"It took me four and half hours of a very emotional journey. I have grown attached to them," Hoke said. "It's difficult for me. It is like separation anxiety at this point."

Hoke had permission from park management to put the gnome homes in the park. He said he was inspired by two things - "The Gnomist" by Robyn Frampton and his five grandchildren who range in age from 2 to 23.

Frampton had secretly built the "Firefly Forest" of gnome and fairy houses in Overland Park, Kansas, as a way of dealing with a divorce. As with Little Buffalo, the forest attracted many visitors who became enthralled with the mystery and message. She ultimately was forced to remove them.

Hoke, 65, of Newport, is a retired prison counselor. He walks several miles at Little Buffalo several times a day.

"During the winter I needed some avenues for my intenseness and the stress that I always dealt with before," he said.

Hundreds of people have walked the trails eagerly looking for the homes, sometimes adding little furniture, gnome statues, notes and coins.

"That was another special part, the interaction that people had with those things. Little pieces of furniture. ... I collected a lot of notes out of them," he said. One of those notes read, "Mr. Gnome, would you please tell my mommy to come home. I miss her so much."

Each home had a saying - "Gnomes are nature's work," "Gnome home," "Gnome throne," "Smell the trees," "Work hard gnomes do," "Dream big."

In the end, it may have been the popularity of the homes that led to their demise.

Park Manager Jason Baker said he had given Hoke permission to place the gnome houses.

"Then we ran it through our channels and after re-evaluating it decided it is just not the right fit for state parks," he said.

Baker said the homes have definitely increased the number of visitors to the park.

"It's not really overtly harmful but those little trails [to the houses] and the compaction and people leave stuff behind and all that kind of builds up and it does affect the quality of the habitat for wildlife," Baker said. Baker said the state park is "more conservation and nature oriented."

Hoke was told the gnome homes "upset the balance of nature."

Baker and others have sought new homes for the gnome houses.

Millerstown and Duncannon are in the mix.

The organization, "This Is Duncannon," has offered homes for the gnomes in borough parks. This Is Duncannon offered this invitation on Twitter:

"Dear Little Buffalo Garden Gnomes,

"We want you to be able to raise your little gnome families right here along side of us but we hear you're facing some housing problems right now. Many of us can relate, as many of us have faced hard times too, so we'd like to do what we do, and that's to help. ...

"Duncannon has more than 250 acres and much of it is wooded and tree lined. We have amazing people, and some pretty great parks, too, and even have a very special one in mind that we'd like to tell you about and maybe even offer you a tour. You'd like it here - there's a stream and a walking path that runs from a playground to the woods and follows the water. There are ducks, and wildflowers, and so very many trees."

"The borough is absolutely endorsing this effort," said Lisa Landis, coordinator of This Is Duncannon. "We would be glad to have them. We have a couple different locations in mind."

Curt Black, chairman of the Millerstown Community Park board said, some of the gnome homes would be a nice fit in the 40-acre park.

"The park board agreed we would allow him to bring some here. I am not sure we have as many places as he had over there," Black said.

The park includes walking trails, an amphitheater, swimming pool, playground and pavilions along the Juniata River in Greenwood Township.

Hoke said the Newport Public Library also would like a few.

"They all seemed very excited to have them," Hoke said.

For now, the gnome houses are in Hoke's driveway. Each home is made to fit a particular tree so Hoke will have to scout the areas offered, identify appropriate trees, take measurements and refurbish the homes to fit their new locations. He also has to consider proximity because some maintenance will be required.

Hoke said he has seen hundreds of pictures of his gnome homes on social media sites. He has received hundreds of letters and notes applauding his effort.

"My ultimate goal was to get kids out of their houses and away from their electronics and go for a walk. That is exactly what happened," Hoke said.