5 min read
Jenna and Shane Kapral, along with Jenna’s parents, Lori and Scott Landis, never expected to find themselves in Birmingham, Alabama. Their journey from Las Vegas to Greystone Golf and Country Club is a story of family, serendipity, and the search for a perfect community.
The Journey Begins
Jenna and Shane met in the vibrant city of Las Vegas, where they fell in love and started their family. Meanwhile, Lori and Scott, who had spent 30 years in the Bay Area, found themselves yearning to be closer to their daughter and her growing family. As empty nesters, they made the decision to leave California and move to Las Vegas to be near Jenna, Shane, and their grandchildren.
Living just a few miles apart, the families enjoyed frequent visits and were deeply involved in each other’s lives. However, as time went on, Jenna and Shane began to realize that Las Vegas might not be the best place to raise their children.
"We love Las Vegas, but it’s an interesting place to raise a family," Jenna explains. "The temptations and challenges of the city made us realize we wanted something different for our kids."
This realization surfaced just two years after Lori and Scott had settled into their new life in Vegas. "We had built our dream home," Lori recalls, "but then Jenna and Shane told us, ‘We don’t want to stay here. We want to move back to the South or the Midwest.’”
To their surprise, Jenna's parents were fully on board with the idea, and so began the family's journey across the country in search of the perfect place to settle. Motivated by a desire to raise their children in a more traditional, community-oriented environment, Shane began researching potential new homes.
Shane created a spreadsheet to compare cities, states, schools, and country clubs across the country. "It was a nerdy research project," Shane admits, "but I wanted to make sure we found the best place for our family."
After considering several locations in Tennessee and Kentucky, they stumbled upon Greystone Golf and Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama. "I immediately said, 'Alabama was never on our list,'" Jenna laughs, remembering her initial reaction. However, a visit to the area changed everything.
A Warm Welcome at Greystone
Despite initial hesitation, both the Kapral and Landis families knew they had found something special the moment they drove into Greystone. "I get teared up just thinking about it," Lori shares. "The neighborhood was great, and when we saw the club, we thought, ‘This is it. This is perfect.’”
Shane, too, was impressed from the start. "Everything about Greystone looked amazing—the two golf courses, the family-oriented atmosphere. Once we visited, it took the rest of the family about 30 seconds to decide this was the spot for us."
The sense of community at Greystone immediately resonated with both families. "We belonged to a country club in Las Vegas, so that was important to us," Scott says. "But Greystone was different. Everyone was so welcoming."
Jenna and Shane's children were particularly taken with the new environment. "Coming from Las Vegas, where it's all flat and there are no trees, our kids were in awe of the greenery at Greystone. They were amazed by the trees, the squirrels, and all the nature. It was like a whole new world for them," Jenna shares.
Building a New Life in Birmingham
Both families purchased homes on the Founders Course and began preparing to depart their lives in Las Vegas. "We started renovations on both my daughter's house and ours, planning to stay in Vegas for 18 months until the work was complete,” Lori recalls. “But just three months later the housing market in Vegas took a sharp downturn. That’s when Scott and Jenna’s husband, Shane, said, ‘Buckle up, girls, we’re leaving.’”
And so the families sold their Vegas homes and all moved into the Landis residence until the Kapral home was habitable. Mind you, the Landis house was also getting renovated at the time, so things were a bit chaotic, to say the least.
“We lived with two tables, an air fryer, and a toaster oven, and did dishes in a bathtub for three months," Lori laughs. "It was tough, but looking back, it was kind of cool that we went through that."
Settling into Life at Greystone
Life became smooth sailing after the families' houses were completed. Living just a few golf holes away from Lori and Scott
has been a blessing for the Kaprals. "We spend so much time together," Shane notes. "My in-laws are like an extension of our immediate family. They play a huge role in our kids’ lives, especially when I travel for work. It’s wonderful to have that support."
As far as life at Greystone goes, "we're heavy users of the club," Shane says proudly. "Whether it’s playing tennis, enjoying the pool, or participating in club events, we make the most of everything Greystone has to offer."
For Lori and Scott, the sense of community at Greystone has been everything they hoped for, too. "I go to the gym every morning at 7 a.m.," Lori says. "They have everything—yoga, Pilates, personal trainers, even water aerobics in the summer."
Scott also has found his place at Greystone. “I play golf two or three times a week, and I’ve even started playing tennis again after decades. We’re also on the Steering Committee and serve as Ambassadors to the Club."
A Place to Call Home
For both the Kapral and Landis families, Greystone is more than just a club—it’s a space that has embraced them fully. "It’s such a warm community," Lori says. "You can be as involved as you want or stay as quiet as you like, but there’s something for everybody."
Their decision to move to Greystone has proven to be the right one. "It was the best decision we ever made," Jenna says with emotion. "Our kids are growing up with a more traditional upbringing, and we couldn’t be happier."
Looking back, both families are certain that moving to Greystone was the right decision. "We love Greystone Golf & Country Club and we love living here," Lori says. For the Kaprals and the Landises, Greystone is not just a place to live—it’s a place where they’ve found a true sense of belonging, surrounded by family, nature, and a welcoming community that has become their home.