Three years ago, Janet Eastman and her husband, Bill, were driving along Interstate 192 when they saw a sign for Tropical Palms. They decided to have a look. “It was love at first sight,” the Nashville, Michigan native tells us. “The pretty pink, blue and yellow cottages, the palm trees; we felt like we were in the Caribbean or Hawaii, places we’ve visited, loved and hoped to return to.”
Happily, the Eastman’s discovery of Tropical Palms coincided with Royalty Resorts taking over management of the property and their mission to make the Resort a place that provides owners, renters and RVers a truly unique experience. Little did Janet know at the time what an instrumental part she would play in that plan.
There was no getting around the fact that when Royalty took over, the property was in need of some loving care and attention. For years, its owners had been content to operate Tropical as a transient rental community. Not so for the new Royalty Resorts management. “A meeting was held of people who were planning to stay two months or more and we were asked what kinds of programs we’d like to see,” said Janet, the soon to be Activities Team member.
“Management was incredibly responsive. We soon started having tournament team bocce ball and horseshoes. We got the aqua swim program going. We organized other exercise groups, starting with a bunch of folks who did a once around the Resort walk everyday. We formed a group of foodies that goes out once a month for a lunch to sample area restaurants. And we began having special dinner shows and live entertainment at the pool. The response we got from residents and visitors alike was tremendous. The following year we returned with more ideas and everyone was really receptive and encouraging. We’ve started having hot dog roasts the first Tuesday of every month, potluck dinners on the third Tuesday and a campfire around Alligator Pond where we all toast marshmallows and s’mores on the fourth Tuesday. This year we’re hoping to add a storyteller to the campfire meeting. It’s all so people can get together and meet and form friendships. Bill and I have certainly made lots of new friends.”
Enough new friends that the Eastmans organized a cruise for March of this coming year. Twenty people signed up to tour the southern Caribbean, Grand Turks, Antigua, Carrasco, and Dominican Republic with them. Of course, it’s not all about the adults. “We also started doing a lot more activities for children: weekend crafts where the kids got the chance to make everything from Mr. Potato Heads to sock puppets and peanut butter and lady bug apples. We now have “dive-in” movies every Friday night. And fun stuff like a D.J. and alligator shows around the pool on weekends. One of the things that’s really a lot fun is helping the kids with their Halloween costumes and making scarecrows they hang on the fences around the Resort. We get into it as much as they do,” Janet says.
GM Chris Wasilewski and the team are always looking for new ideas and programs. They welcome anyone who has a talent or hobby they want to share. “We always try our best to accommodate them. The whole idea of Tropical is to keep people as engaged – or as relaxed – as they want to be. That’s the goal we’re always working towards.”
