Visitors Center & Historical Museum
Thanks to the generosity of the Town of Penney Farms, the J.C. Penney Scenic Highway and Historical Society of Penney Farms are in the process of setting up a small visitor center and historical exhibit area at Town Hall. The project is moving ahead and we will be posting hours of operation soon. On May 4th, 2013 the Penney Farms Historical Exhibit was listed as one of the stops on the Clay County Historical Tour. The Museum should be complete very soon.
Model Railroad Exhibit
The Penney Retirement Community Model Railroad Club recently received a major rail line layout for the Santa Fe Railroad. Members are busy reconfiguring the current railroad exhibit to incorporate this gift. A Gold Spike Celebration event (May) ans annual open house (Dec) are held each year. The Model Railroad Club can now bring portable displays to outside events. Layouts with DC and DCC set-ups can be run concurrently. The railroad at work can be seen each Wednesday afternoon from 1:30-3:00p.m. or at other times by calling one of the numbers listed on the door.GEO-CACHINGGEOCACHING is a free real-world outdoor treasure hunt. Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using a smartphone or GPS and can then share their experiences online. Check-in at www.geocaching.com - Select "J.C. Penney Memorial Scenic Highway" and hit play. Load the kids in the car and spend a fun afternoon finding caches. Remember to sign the log to record visitor count!
UPDATE:
The PRC Model Raiload Club invites you to visit on Wednesday afternoons from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.to see all the new additions to the display. We are 8 miles from Green Cove Springs; 8 miles from Middleburg and 28 miles from Starke and located at the corner of Wilbank Avenue and Caroline Blvd, in Penney Farms. Wilbank is the first street west of the traffic light at S.R. 16 and C.R. 218. If you have family visiting any time, this is a great place to come. Stop by on a Wednesday or call 904-259-1496/904-284-4910 to schedule a visit. All aboard!
Byway Description
The J.C. Penney Memorial Scenic Highway passes through a series of natural and majestic features, including oak and magnolia canopies, and a variety of bottomland hardwoods, commercial forest, mesic hammock, and wetlands landscapes. The corridor allows travelers to experience Penney Farms community by experiencing its cultural, historical, and scenic resources, such as Penney Memorial Church, Penney Retirement Community's French Norman architecture, and the New Hope community.
The J.C. Penney Memorial Scenic Highway is a unique area for tourists and visitors to walk or ride a bike along the scenic highway to view Penney Farms' natural and historical resources and the oasis "garden spot" within the community.