Palm Coast, FL – If you’ve come from someplace else, either from around Florida, the southern United States or far away, there is something you’ll notice pretty quickly after a few days in Palm Coast.
There are a whole lot of people from New Jersey living here.
Palm Coast isn’t like your typical southern town and in part, it’s due to the heavy marketing done by the community’s master planners decades ago, who reached out to specific portions of the country to showcase the growing area.
Upon moving here, residents of the Garden State found each other, and started the New Jersey Social Club of Palm Coast in the 1980’s according to member Penni Knapp.
“They realized that a lot of Palm Coast residents were from New Jersey so they decided to form a club where people had something in common.. New Jersey,” said Knapp.
Incorporating the club in 1989, it’s been a whirlwind of events for the club’s 100 or so members, with day trips that have included adventures to the Sleuth Murder Mystery Theater in Orlando, Al Capone Dinner & Show in Orlando, a luncheon cruise on the St. Johns River, an Amelia Island tour, the Elephant Ranch in Williston, airboat rides, and a trip to Gaylord Palms in December to see the sculptured ice.
They even get out for overnight trips to places like Naples/Ft. Myers, Charleston, Biloxi & New Orleans, Ashville & Chattanooga, Branson, Savannah, Pigeon Forge.
The club took their first day trip on Wednesday, August 11th after a long hiatus during the height of the pandemic.
“After over a year and a half with no trips, it was great to get on the bus and head to the Sleuth Murder Mystery Dinner Theater in Orlando,” said Knapp. “Finally. Fun time and delicious food.”
Club president Mary Ann Mesics says she enjoys being around fellow residents from New Jersey during the monthly meetings and club activities.
“We joined to meet people and have made some new friends,” said Mesics. “I also enjoy the various speakers that we have at our monthly meetings and talking to people who have common interests.”
Dues are $20 per year per person and Knapp says the club’s monthly meetings feature interesting speakers, and coffee and cake refreshments, in addition to three luncheons per year including a covered dish lunch and an ice cream social at one of the meetings.
The club meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 1:00 PM at the Palm Coast Community Center, except for November and December when the meetings are earlier according to Knapp, who heads up membership for the club.
There’s only caveat to becoming a member.
“You must have lived in New Jersey at some point in your life,” said Knapp. For more information, contact membership chair Penni Knapp at 386-246-6904.
