About Us
Paradise Cay Plantation is lovingly owned by Bill and Cheryl Corcoran. Transplants originally from the north, the Corcoran’s came to the south because of Corporate jobs. Mired in the high energy, ever changing world of IT (Information Technology) Bill and Cheryl were always in endless meetings, problem solving for customers, training, traveling, managing projects and programs and leading lives dictated by others. Both of them secretly longed for a farm but never shared that info with each other until one day they were uprooted from their lovely home on the Florida coast, because of work, and had the opportunity to decide on a different life. They were pleasantly surprised when they shared their dreams of owning a farm, after finally realizing that life is short and youth is fleeting, and so they made the decision to get out of the chaos of the daily grind and step into the rural life on the farm. That was 2004.
The little farm they bought had started it’s life as a horse breeding farm back in the 80’s. It had been through several owners and was sadly in need of lots of love and attention. The needs were numerous from the house to the barns to the fencing and the fields. All of which did not discourage them even though for a while working on the farm was only their side hustle. In 2006 they opened a horse breeding farm, taking cues from the farm itself on what it wanted to be, and Al Ameen Arabians was born. They worked hard and enjoyed it all!—birthing babies, caring for them, showing, boarding and breeding for clients, and teaching others along the way. You can learn more about their horse business, on the Al Ameen Arabians page.
Fast forward to 2017—Both retired from Corporate life; still in love with the farm and yes, they still have horses; but Bill and Cheryl reevaluated the direction of the farm and it’s purpose. They realize how special living on a farm is compared to the compact living and lifestyle of suburbia. There you live in a box, drive a box to work, go and sit in your “box” (office/cubical); eat your boxed lunch from a fast food box; try to work “out of the box”; drive your box home and try to relieve your stress filled day by mindlessly munching in front of a box that more often than not, tells you how to live in your box. Sound familiar??
Feeling the need to craft a place that is peaceful and nurturing and definitely not in the box, the Corcoran’s are creating a farm that offers more than just a place to buy fresh eggs and honey. They envision a farm that engages visitors through events and encounters that help them reconnect to themselves, others, our communal home, and to God in some small way. The farm is a gift and a blessing to be used to bring us together through new learnings, fresh food, animals, and self-discovery. Bill and Cheryl want to share its tranquil qualities along with the bounty it produces. Creating this oasis is definitely a journey. It’s not neat, tidy, and perfectly square, but it’s friendly and real. Away from the noise the world often brings that stresses us and distracts us from who we really are meant to be. The Corcoran’s are working hard to offer a place that’s fun and filled with opportunities to make great memories. They hope you will want to visit them in their paradise—a place where you can sit a spell and just be.