In today’s Digest:
🏘️ More than 4,000 acres near Nocatee could gain fast-tracked residential development rights.
🎢 Gate paid $2.1 million for part of the former Adventure Landing property.
🏫 Silverleaf's first public school will welcome 1,300 students on August 10.
💵 St. Augustine barred HOAs and CDDs from neighborhood grants worth up to $3,000.
🚴 IRONMAN confirmed its 2027 bike route will skip St. Johns County.
🍽️ Dinner inside an 1879 San Marco mansion
Located at 102 San Marco Avenue in St. Augustine, Raintree Restaurant has served Mediterranean, American, and Asian dishes inside an 1879 Victorian mansion since 1981. Beef Wellington, seafood, steaks, and Sunday brunch anchor the menu.
Inside, diners can choose the fireplace-lit Victorian dining room, a garden atrium, or a courtyard with gazebos and a koi fountain. Founder's daughter Lorna now operates the restaurant with her husband Chris and their son Zach.
Read more here.
🏘️ 4,000 Nocatee-Area Acres Enter Fast-Track Review
The Gist: Six St. Johns County properties are seeking agricultural-enclave certification under SB 686, including more than 4,000 acres behind Mickler's Wharf near Nocatee. The law took effect July 1 and can secure residential development rights that the county cannot deny based on land use, zoning or traffic.
Why It Matters: The change could reshape a large part of northern St. Johns County while limiting the county's usual control over growth and road impacts.
What's Next: County staff has 30 days to review each application before a public hearing and final certification decision.
Read more here.
🎢 Gate Buys Piece of Former Adventure Landing Site
The Gist: Gate Petroleum bought part of the former Adventure Landing property on State Road 16 for $2.1 million on July 24 and confirmed plans for a Gate Express Carwash. The amusement park closed April 12 after the full 7.1-acre site sold for $3.6 million.
Why It Matters: The purchase names the first end user for a local landmark site now headed for commercial redevelopment.
What's Next: St. Johns County is reviewing demolition and redevelopment plans. Gate has not announced a construction date.
Read more here.
🏫 Silverleaf's First Public School Opens August 10
The Gist: Magnolia Oaks Academy, a new K-8 campus and Silverleaf's first public school, will welcome 1,300 students on August 10. The school will serve kindergarten through seventh grade in 2026-27, with an eighth-grade class planned for the following year.
Why It Matters: The campus gives the fast-growing Silverleaf area its own public school and was built to ease crowding elsewhere in the district.
What's Next: Classes begin August 10, and the academy plans to add eighth grade for the 2027-28 school year.
Read more here.
💵 HOAs and CDDs Lose Access to City Grants
The Gist: St. Augustine commissioners amended the Neighborhood Grant Program on July 27 to exclude homeowners associations and community development districts. The program offers up to $3,000 to qualifying nonprofit neighborhood groups for beautification, enrichment and community projects.
Why It Matters: City staff says HOAs and CDDs can already assess members, so limited grant dollars will go to groups without that revenue tool.
What's Next: The next application window runs October 1 through October 15.
Read more here.
🚴 2027 IRONMAN Route Will Skip St. Johns County
The Gist: IRONMAN confirmed its May 16, 2027, Jacksonville race will not send cyclists through St. Johns County. The 2026 debut drew about 2,000 athletes but caused major backups in Nocatee and Ponte Vedra, and Sheriff Robert Hardwick raised safety concerns.
Why It Matters: Nocatee and Ponte Vedra residents will avoid a repeat of the all-day road impacts, while the race loses its St. Johns County leg.
What's Next: Registration opens August 6. Organizers say the new bike course will be announced in the coming months.
Read more here.
Family Friendly
🎨 Night Art Market | Lakeside Park | St. Augustine Beach | Saturday, August 1, 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. | More
Free evening market with local artists, vendors, food, and live entertainment.
🥾 GTM Guided Exploration Hike | GTM Research Reserve Trailhead Pavilion | Ponte Vedra Beach | Saturday, August 1, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. | More
Registered hikers explore Guana Peninsula biodiversity and 5,000 years of human history.
🐎 Drum Runner Series Barrel Racing | St. Johns County Fairgrounds | Elkton | Saturday, August 1, demonstrations 10:00 a.m., games 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. | More
Watch barrel, pole, and speed-horse races free from the spectator area.
🏊 Murabella Kids Triathlon | Murabella Amenity Center | St. Augustine | Sunday, August 2, 9:00 a.m. | More
Kids ages 5 to 14 swim, bike, and run age-scaled courses.
🥕 Wednesday Pier Farmers Market | St. Johns County Ocean Pier | St. Augustine Beach | Wednesday, August 5, 8:00 a.m. to noon | More
Shop produce, bread, and local art beside the pier, then walk the beach.
Adult Events
🎭 ShepardFest | St. Augustine Waterworks | St. Augustine | Friday, July 31 through Monday, August 3, times vary | More
The Sam Shepard festival pairs lectures, plays, a book signing, and films.
🎤 Francisco Ramos, Kel Pérez, and Hombre Promedio | Cafe Eleven | St. Augustine Beach | Saturday, August 1, doors 7:00 p.m., show 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. | More
Three 18+ comedians deliver observational, cultural, and immigrant-life humor.
🎹 MindTravel Piano Concert | St. Johns County Ocean Pier | St. Augustine Beach | Sunday, August 2, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. | More
Murray Hidary improvises on piano through wireless headphones beside the ocean.
🎷 Jazz at the Excelsior: Marcus Click | Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center | St. Augustine | Wednesday, August 5, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. | More
Award-winning saxophonist Marcus Click brings smooth jazz to historic Lincolnville.
🎸 Zach Deputy | Colonial Oak Music Park | St. Augustine | Thursday, August 6, 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. | More
The one-man looping act blends island grooves, southern soul, funk, and synth guitar.
If you want to read any of our previous issues, check them out HERE on our website.
Thanks for reading our publication! We'll have more updates for you next week!
Business owners: Want to reach thousands of local readers? Reply to this email for info.