What's Next For World Golf Village?

At its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 21, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners reviewed the results of a public survey regarding the potential uses for the 36.07 acres at the core of World Golf Village.

Community Feedback Highlights

The survey, conducted from July through September last year, garnered responses from 4,900 participants, with 54% residing within five miles of the property. The findings indicated a strong community preference for maintaining the IMAX Theater, alongside the introduction of more dining options and high-end retail establishments.

Key Property Details

In April, the board approved the purchase of several key assets within the area:

• The 17,865-square-foot IMAX Theater

• The 32,329-square-foot building currently housing PGA Tour Productions

• The inventory of the World Golf Hall of Fame

• The lake, common area, and parking spaces

These properties were acquired for $5.5 million. Additionally, the county already owns the 64,113-square-foot Hall of Fame building. The World Golf Foundation had announced in July 2022 its intention to relocate the Hall of Fame to its original home in Pinehurst, North Carolina, after being in St. Johns County since 1998. Operations ceased on December 31, 2023, and the building was subsequently conveyed to the county. The PGA Tour and World Golf Foundation plan to lease back the production facility until March 2025 while relocating to the PGA Tour Global Headquarters in Ponte Vedra.

Survey Insights

Brett Wiler, senior director of economic development and strategic planning for TPMA Inc., presented the survey findings:

• Frequent Visits: Over half of the respondents visited World Golf Village up to 10 times last year, with 14% visiting more than 50 times.

• Popular Attractions: The IMAX Theater (52%), dining options (50%), and other amenities (31%) were top reasons for visits.

• Positive Experiences: Scenery and ambiance (71%), convenience and accessibility (41%), and services like retail and restaurants (34%) were highlighted as enjoyable aspects.

• Suggestions for Improvement: 77% of respondents supported increasing retail and dining options, while more than half desired better activities.

• Preferred Uses: 63% wished for the IMAX Theater to remain, and 65% suggested the Hall of Fame building be repurposed as an entertainment facility. Other popular suggestions included dining, leisure, recreation, and cultural uses, while respondents opposed the idea of an automobile dealership, industrial facility, or luxury apartments.

• Future Use of 21 World Golf Place: Professional or corporate offices were the top choice for this location.

• Maintenance of Common Areas: There was a strong preference for the county to continue maintaining the 36 acres of parking, drainage, rights of way, and submerged lands on South Legacy Trail.

Next Steps

Despite some criticism about the survey’s focus on visitors over residents, TPMA recommended the county:

• Retain the IMAX Theater

• Enhance dining and retail options

• Consider entertainment, leisure, athletics, and cultural facilities

• Explore incubation or headquarters opportunities for targeted industries

• Address parking access and traffic needs

In response, the commission directed staff to draft an RFQ (request for quotation) to seek proposals from private developers for a public-private partnership to redevelop and manage the properties.

Stay tuned for further developments as St. Johns County shapes the future of World Golf Village based on community input and strategic planning.