St James Plantation entrance sign in Southport NC

Ask people who live in St James Plantation what they love most, and golf and the beach club come up quickly. But just as often, you will hear about the people. With more than 100 resident-run clubs and social groups, plus parks, trails, a marina and a busy calendar of community events, St James is the kind of place where it is easy to find your people within weeks of moving in.

Here is a look at the clubs and activities that make daily life in St James so full. (Thinking about the golf and club membership side of things? See our guide to St James Plantation club membership.)

A Community Built Around Social Groups

Much of the social life at St James is organized by residents themselves through the Property Owners Association. The St James Activities Committee plans regular get-togethers, both inside the gates and at nearby venues, with the goal of helping neighbors get to know one another. Beyond that, residents have formed clubs for just about every interest you can imagine.

The lineup changes over time as new groups form, but here is a sampling of the kinds of clubs St James residents have enjoyed:

On the Water and Outdoors

Aerial view of waterfront homes and private docks along the water near St James Plantation

  • Fishing Club - with salt water and fresh water derbies and a youth fishing derby
  • Kayakers Club and Kayak Fishing Club
  • Model Yacht Club - known for its year-round weekly sailing events
  • Bird Watching Club
  • Garden Club
  • Bikers Club
  • Kite Flying Club

Sports and Games

  • Pickleball Club
  • Tennis Club and STJ Tennis Association, including USTA play
  • Croquet Club, Bocce Ball Group and Horseshoe Ringers
  • Men's Senior Softball League
  • Bowling Leagues, Billiards League and Women's Pool League
  • Ping Pong Club
  • Golf Associations
  • Fantasy Football League and a Hot Stove League for baseball fans

Cards, Tiles and Game Nights

  • Bridge Club, Canasta and Senior Cards
  • Mahjong Club
  • Mexican Train
  • Bunco
  • Poker

Arts, Crafts and Creative Pursuits

  • Artisans Group - which hosts special events such as a Plein Air paint-out, an evening with the arts and a holiday boutique
  • Arts and Crafts Club, Decorative Painting and the Woodlands Painting Group
  • Photography Club
  • Quilters, STJ Needlers and Scrapbooking Club
  • Author's Group and several Book Clubs

Music and Dance

  • Buoys and Gulls Square Dance Club
  • Tappers tap dancing group
  • Polka Club

Cars, Planes and Hobbies

  • Corvette Club, Motorcycle Club and Wheels by the Sea
  • Flight Simulator Club and Friendly Skies Club
  • Rifle and Pistol Association
  • Wine Club

Heritage, Faith and Service

  • Newcomers Club - a great first stop for new residents
  • Italian Club and Polish Club
  • Men's Club, Service Club and Women's Service Club
  • Men's and Women's Bible Study
  • STJ Post 543 American Legion, a Marine Corps club and Operation at Ease
  • STJ Library Volunteers
  • St James P.R.I.D.E., which organizes Earth Day plantings and other community projects
  • Sassie Ladies Red Hat Club and Vintage Ladies of St James

There are also support groups and wellness-focused groups, so residents can find community in many different ways.

The Royal Order of the Honorary Oyster

One of the most unique groups in St James is the Royal Order of the Honorary Oyster, which supports the community's oyster enrichment program. Working with partners including the UNCW Center for Marine Science and the North Carolina Coastal Federation, volunteers help build oyster reefs at Waterway Park and along Beaver Creek. Oysters filter large amounts of seawater every day, so these reefs help keep local waters clean while creating a living shoreline. It is a great example of how St James residents mix fun, friendship and giving back.

Parks, Trails and Places to Gather

Clubs need places to meet, and St James has plenty of them:

  • Woodlands Park - a nature-based park with a lake, a lakefront amphitheater for concerts and events, a recreational field, playgrounds, a walking trail and a dog park.
  • Waterway Park - a kayak launch with access to the Intracoastal Waterway, a covered pavilion with picnic tables, playgrounds, a covered pier and a native plant trail.
  • Reflection Park - a peaceful spot to walk or bike and enjoy the natural surroundings.
  • Miles of trails - more than 36 miles of boardwalks, nature trails and sidewalks for walking, jogging and biking.
  • Nature preserves - hundreds of acres of protected land where native wildlife thrives.
  • Community garden - plots where residents can grow their own vegetables and flowers.
  • Dog parks - at Woodlands Park and near the St James Chapel.
  • Private oceanfront beach club - on nearby Oak Island, with private parking, a pool, showers, changing rooms and a pavilion.
  • The marina - a full-service marina on the Intracoastal Waterway with wet slips, dry stack storage and the Harborside shops nearby, plus waterfront dining at Beacon 315.

The marina at St James Plantation on the Intracoastal Waterway

Residents can also reserve spots at Woodlands Park, Waterway Park and the Beach Club for their own gatherings through the POA.

Fitness, Tennis and Golf

Aerial view of a St James Plantation golf course, homes and coastal marsh

Staying active is a big part of the St James lifestyle. The community includes a signature wellness center, multiple fitness centers, indoor and outdoor pools, Har-Tru clay tennis courts, a croquet lawn and 81 holes of championship golf spread across four clubhouses: the Reserve Club, Founders Club, Members Club and Players Club, along with the resort-style pool complex at SeaSide. Access to some of these facilities depends on club membership, which we break down in our St James club membership guide.

Events Throughout the Year

There is almost always something on the calendar in St James. Regular events have included trivia nights, karaoke, bowling nights, golf tournaments, murder mystery nights and road rallies. Seasonal favorites have included:

  • Spring - St. Patrick's Day golf and breakfast, an Easter Eggstravaganza with an egg hunt and kids' activities, and member-guest tournaments.
  • Summer - a summer kick-off party at the SeaSide pool, beach parties, street dances, clambakes, a beer and shrimp festival, and a week-long Fourth of July celebration.
  • Fall - member appreciation events, an annual oyster dinner, and Thanksgiving buffets.
  • Winter - a progressive holiday cocktail party, holiday boutiques and New Year's Eve celebrations at the clubhouses.

Cabaret nights, an afternoon of arias, wine dinners and bus trips to ball games round things out. Event calendars change from year to year, so the best way to see what is coming up is to check the St James POA website and the Town of St James clubs and organizations page.

And Just Outside the Gates: Historic Southport

When you want a change of scenery, historic Southport is just minutes away, with its waterfront Riverwalk, museums, shops, restaurants, festivals and the famous N.C. 4th of July Festival. The beaches of Oak Island and Caswell Beach are close by too, and the Southport-Fort Fisher ferry makes a day trip across the Cape Fear River easy.

Find Your Home in St James Plantation

Whether you picture yourself paddling the marsh in the morning, playing pickleball in the afternoon and heading to a club social in the evening, or simply enjoying the trails and a quiet sunset, St James offers a lifestyle that is easy to love.

Learn more in our post on what St James Plantation is like, or browse current St James Plantation homes for sale. When you are ready to take a closer look, our team at Coastline Real Estate would be happy to show you around.