Palm Isle Celebrates 50

When Palm Isle was developed in 1973, the south end of the island was largely undeveloped. In fact it was almost completely undeveloped.

“They brought the workers from Minneapolis and housed them,” said Jack Nunn, son-in-law of one of the original developers of Palm Isle. "They were happy they were able to use them because they were all journeymen plumbers, carpenters, and electricians.”

Palm Isle consists of four two-story buildings, cozily situated on a one-acre waterfront lot on Huron Court. Each building has just four 1138 square foot units. The focal point of the property is a beautiful swimming pool that offers a panoramic view of the Marco skyline. And of course the 17 palm trees that grace the property. Early owners at Palm Isle enjoyed an unobstructed view of the beach.  

The property was developed by three men from Grand Forks, North Dakota. The daughter of one of the developers, Gay Nunn, is still an owner at Palm Isle.

"My dad, Gale Satrom, and two of his friends - Bill Blair and Kermit Quaintance - built Palm Isle," said Gay Nunn.

"Gay and I were 31 when they built this,” said Jack Nunn. "Bill Blair and Gale Satrom were partners in real estate development and building in Grand Forks. Gale came down to this area fishing in 1970. From that, he excited Kermit Quaintance, who was easily excited because he was a salesman by trade. He also got Bill Blair involved in it. The three of them just had a ball. They bought this piece of land from the corner of Swallow, all the way down Huron, and around the corner. They developed Palm Isle first. They sold the units, basically, to their friends. That’s why most of the original owners were either from Grands Forks or Minneapolis, because they were their friends. Most of the original owners were grain brokers, because Kermit was a grain broker in Minneapolis before he moved to Grand Forks.”

Lynn Lorton, one of two descendants of original owners at Palm Isle, was the daughter of one of those original owners.

"Gay and I are the only originals left,” Lynn Lorton said with a smile. "My dad bought when he was 53, and he worked until he was 65. So we all just came here on vacation. At the beginning, only one couple lived here year-round.”

The more things change, the more they stay the same. There is still only one family who resides at Palm Isle year-round.

The trio purchased the land and developed all three condominium projects on the west side of Huron Court: Sunny Shadows, Palm Isle, and Breezy Point.

"They had a unique partnership,” Jack Nunn said, "because they agreed that they could go as a trio, a duo, or go individually, in any of their projects. Kermit, who sometimes went off on his own, is best known for building the Eagle Creek golf course. He sold it and came back to the trio. In 1987, the last building the trio built was Tropical Isle.”

Tropical Isle is also on the south end of the island.

None of the three original developers are still with us.

"My dad lived to over 100,” Gay Nunn said.

"Bill Blair lived to 99,” said Jack Nunn. "Kermit was in his 80s.”

Jack Nunn said the three developers had complementary skill sets.

"Kermit could sell anything,” Jack Nunn said. "He had the ideas. Gale was the financier. He could get loans, buy and sell. Bill Blair could put the two of them together and just move things forward. He was wonderful at that. He could take Gale’s skills in finance, he could take Kermit’s skills in sales and he could take the two of them together and move forward. It was really fun to watch because a lot of the people I know at home get into fights, but these three never seemed to do that. If they had a difference, one of them dropped out. They always solved problems within their trio."

Jack Nunn said that for many years owners at Palm Isle never needed to advertise their units for sale. He figures that’s part of the reason why the condominium association has always enjoyed a harmonious relationship among its owners.

"From 1973- to 1986, Palm Isle never had to advertise their units for sale,” said Jack Nunn. They always seemed to get their own people. So we always had a lot of Minneapolis and Grand Forks people here. We’ve never had a bad bunch. Never. We just seem to have people who get along. We had a board meeting today that lasted 23 minutes. How many places can do that?”

“It's just a family atmosphere,” said board member Steve Boomer. "We were the rookies. We bought here in 2019. We had someone come in after that, so we’re not the newest anymore. We looked all over. The first time we came here and looked at a unit, that was it.”

Cathy and Rob Hoernschemeyer are the newest owners at Palm Isle. They spent 35 years as time sharing owners at The Charter Club of Marco Beach.

"Staying at the Charter Club for 35 years was like being on vacation,” Cathy Hoernschemeyer said. “Palm Isle is our second home. What’s really charming about this is that there’s only 16 units. It’s intimate.” 

“You get to know people and their families because you’re here for multiple months,” said Rob Hoernschemeyer. “When you come to this property everybody welcomes you. We feel like we’ve found a very nice second home.”

Jack and Gay were late getting back to Palm Isle this year.

"I had some health issues,” Jack Nunn said. "But when we came down a week ago, we both had tears in our eyes. Can you imagine that? And not just because we’re in Florida. It’s because people were here greeting us. Hugging us. Saying ’Thank God, you made it down. How are your kids doing? How are your grandkids doing?’”

Not much has changed at Palm Isle over the past 50 years. But one project stands out.

"One of the highlights was when we got a new dock system here in 2006,” Lorton said. "We went from eight docks to 16.”

“The original slips were parallel to the seawall” Jack Nunn said. “Now there are finger docks that extend out. So everyone gets a dock."

Gay Nunn is wearing a crown for the 50th anniversary party. It is symbolic. 

"I have this crown to represent my dad and the other two men that started this,” she said wistfully.

"She is the Palm Isle queen,” husband Jack says admiringly. 

“Palm Isle is a pretty special place,” Lorton said, “isn’t it Gay?”

“Yes, it is,” Gay Nunn answers with a knowing nod.