Our Highways
Scenic Highways
Panhandle Region
Northern Region
Central Region
- Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway
- Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway
- Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway
- Green Mountain Scenic Byway
- Indian River Lagoon National Scenic Byway
- Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail
- Palma Sola Scenic Highway
- River of Lakes Heritage Corridor Scenic Highway
- Suncoast Scenic Parkway
- The Ridge Scenic Highway
Southern Region
J.C. Penney Memorial Scenic Highway
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.
J.C. Penney Memorial Scenic Highway
The J.C. Penney Memorial Scenic Highway consists of 2.85 miles of roads in Clay County along SR 16 from Thunder Road (western terminus) to Paso Fino Road (eastern terminus). The scenic highway also loops around the historic Town of Penney Farms starting at SR16 heading south along Palmetto Avenue, turning east along Caroline Blvd. and north along Studio Ave. reconnecting to SR16.
J.C. Penney Memorial Scenic Highway
J.C. Penney Memorial Scenic Highway
http://jcpenneyscenichighway.org/
J.C. Penney Memorial Scenic Highway
The Oak and Magnolia Tree Canopy located along S.R. 16 provides a beautiful entrance to Penney Farms. Many of the trees in the canopy were planted by Mr. and Mrs. Penney in the early days of Penney Farms. A drive under the tunnel-like green canopy reveals that the town has replaced and planted additional oaks and magnolias to add to the existing canopy.
The memorial Home Community District (National Register, 1999) is located on S.R. 16, Poling Boulevard and Caroline Avenue. The Memorial Home Community District (District) built in the 1920s was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1999. The District is marked by its exquisite French Norman style architecture. The central gathering place in the District is the Penney Memorial Church, which contains an extensive set of beautiful stained glass windows. In addition to some of the original cottages built by J.C. Penney, the Penney Retirement Community Golf Course is located along fancifully landscaped Poling Boulevard. This nine-hole course is well maintained and contains water fountains that add to the scenic character of the course. The original Post Office, built, in 1927, continues to operate, and is located just one block from Caroline Boulevard.
The New Hope area of Penney Farms includes the new Hope Baptist Church located on Palmetto Avenue. The New Hope Baptist Church is the central gathering place of the New Hope Community, which includes generations of New Hope residents. Three white crosses are located on the church grounds, symbolizing the three crosses found at Calvary on the day that Jesus Christ was crucified along with two thieves, one to his left and one to his right. The church grounds contain several old oak trees that provide a nice canopy approaching the entrance of the church. Adjacent to the church is the Penney Farms Recreation Park, which includes a playground for children to enjoy. Just two blocks from Palmetto Avenue on Caroline Boulevard is an original dwelling that has been identified as a Tenant Farmer Cottage. Funds are being sought to rehabilitate and move this home to a location more visible from the J.C. Penney Memorial Scenic Highway.
