Nestled in Jacksonville’s historic San Jose district – just minutes from the charming San Marco neighborhood, Epping Forest Yacht & Country Club is a private sanctuary of timeless elegance for the most discerning members.
As part of Gate Hospitality’s exclusive portfolio of North Florida landmark clubs, including the legendary AAA Five-Diamond Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, Epping Forest upholds an uncompromising standard of excellence.
Built in 1926 as the Florida residence of industrialist Alfred I. du Pont and his wife Jessie Ball du Pont, the 25-room, 15,000-square-foot riverfront mansion was acclaimed as one of America’s finest estates in its day. Its architecture is a Mediterranean Revival masterpiece, blending Spanish and Baroque design influences, surrounded by formal English gardens complete with stone fountains and a lion-head reflecting pool. During the estate’s heyday, U.S. presidents and titans of industry, the Vanderbilts, Carnegies, and royalty among them, frequented its elegant halls for lavish gatherings. Today this storied du Pont Mansion remains a nationally recognized historic landmark, meticulously restored to its original grandeur. It serves as the heart of Epping Forest Yacht & Country Club, a place where members now enjoy gourmet and casual dining with impeccable service, in dining rooms that offer unforgettable views of the manicured gardens and glimmering St. Johns River.
Members of Epping Forest enjoy an array of world-class amenities and vibrant traditions that together create an exclusive lifestyle. The Club offers resort-style facilities from six sparkling pools and illuminated tennis courts to a state-of-the-art fitness center ensuring every recreational and wellness pursuit is met with excellence. Just as importantly, time-honored social events bind the community. Elegant wine dinners, lively dockside parties at the marina, and the famed annual “Lighting of the Mansion” holiday celebration are just a few of the signature gatherings that fill the calendar, cultivating a warm sense of legacy and camaraderie among all generations.
Florida Georgia Tailgate Party
Blue Angels Air Show
Lighting of The Mansion & Marina
Friday Nighter Member Socials
Sunday Brunch
Winemaker Dinners
Wine, Beer and Spirit Tastings
Holiday Dining
Murder Mystery Dinner
Spring Camp Outs
Labor Day Pool Party
Fourth of July Pool Party
Kid’s Night Out
Summer Kid Camps
Youth Sailing Programs
Fitness Fest
Yappy Hour
Gate River Run Team
Tennis Mixers
Dock Parties
Trivia Nights
Family Dining Night
Epping Forest’s deep-water marina is a haven for boating enthusiasts and a prized amenity of the club. Nestled in a protected yacht basin along the widest expanse of the St. Johns River, the private 70-slip marina comfortably accommodates yachts up to 100 feet and provides direct navigation to the Atlantic Ocean. Its westward-facing docks afford breathtaking sunset views over the water, making evenings on the docks as memorable as days spent cruising. With its combination of convenience, security, and unrivaled scenery, the marina offers members an extraordinary yachting experience available nowhere else in the region.
For those seeking the ultimate in club privileges, the Gate Governors Club program allows members to enjoy access to two or more prestigious clubs with a single membership. Savvy members can combine Epping Forest’s riverfront elegance with the oceanfront luxury of the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, the beachside charm of The Lodge & Club, and the cosmopolitan ambiance of downtown’s River Club – tailoring a multi-club lifestyle ideally suited to their needs. This unique membership broadens your world, seamlessly blending the best of beach, city, and country club living. It is an unparalleled opportunity to experience Northeast Florida’s most exclusive clubs in one perfectly orchestrated membership.