It’s a new year for Newcomers Club

Newcomers Club of Park City snowshoe session. Photo: courtesy of Newcomers Club of Park City

PARK CITY, Utah — For nearly three decades, the Newcomers Club of Greater Park City and Heber City has been defying its own name — and thriving because of it.

Founded in 1995, the social club started with a straightforward mission: help newcomers feel at home. But something unexpected happened. Members loved it so much they stayed. And stayed. The club’s roster grew beyond fresh arrivals to include longtime residents, part-timers seeking connection and full-timers looking for community. The name stuck anyway, a charming contradiction that perfectly captures what the organization has become.

“Whether you are new to the area or new to having free time, we provide endless opportunities to get out and about and to socialize with old and new friends,” the club states on its website. “Our members include part-time and full-time residents.”

Today, this registered 501(c)(7) social club is a sprawling network of adult volunteers — women, men, singles and couples — who’ve built something rare in a transient mountain town: genuine community.

The engine behind it all is monthly coffee gatherings paired with a Speakers Series featuring local nonprofit leaders discussing their work and volunteer opportunities. But the club’s real magic lies in its breadth. Whether members are drawn to games, cultural pursuits or outdoor adventures, there’s a niche waiting.

January’s calendar reads like a wish list: Canasta tournaments and Writers Circle meetups. Mahjong games and ski tours. Wine tastings and book club discussions. Bunko nights, bridge games and even Bark Buddies dog sledding. There’s Denim Dining — casual meals with a dress code twist — and Stitch-n-chat for the crafting set.

It’s the kind of relentless calendar that turns a club born from newcomer jitters into something far more enduring: a reason to stay.