More Than a Trip. A Journey That Changes Lives.
- Tim Gebhart
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 21 hours ago
There are baseball games. There are vacations. And then there are Casey's Clubhouse Travel Experiences.
What started as a simple idea has become one of the most meaningful programs we offer. Every mile traveled creates opportunities that many of our athletes and families never imagined possible. For some, it's their first hotel stay. Their first airplane ride. Their first time seeing the ocean. Their first Broadway show. Their first time meeting friends from another state who share the same love of baseball.
These experiences have never been about winning games. They've always been about building confidence, creating independence, forming lifelong friendships, and showing our athletes that the world is so much bigger than their own backyard.
As our program continues to grow, so do the dreams.
Today, we're excited to announce our next great adventure.
Welcome to Palm Beach. Spring Training 2027.
In the spring of 2027, Casey's Clubhouse will travel to Palm Beach, Florida for our biggest spring training experience yet, hosted alongside our incredible friends at the Miracle League of Palm Beach.
For several unforgettable days, athletes from multiple states will come together to experience baseball the way the professionals do. They'll play games under the Florida sun, build friendships with athletes from across the country, experience Major League spring training, and take part in activities that celebrate inclusion both on and off the field.
But baseball is only the beginning.
Families will experience adaptive surfing, explore the beauty of South Florida, watch manatees in their natural habitat, enjoy community celebrations, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Just like every Casey's Clubhouse travel experience, the schedule is built around one simple idea. Baseball brings us together. Everything else builds relationships that last forever.
Looking Back at an Incredible Journey
It's hard to believe how far this program has come.
2022. The Adventure Begins.
Our travel program officially hit the road in 2022, and what a debut season it was.
We began in Cincinnati, visiting our friends at the Joe Nuxhall Foundation, touring the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, and cheering on the Reds at Great American Ball Park.
Later that summer, we traveled to central Pennsylvania to compete with the Miracle League of Altoona before celebrating together at Hershey Park, where athletes tackled roller coasters and enjoyed plenty of chocolate.
The season concluded in Mercer County, New Jersey with games against the Miracle League of Mercer County followed by a night at a Trenton Thunder game.
It was a year filled with baseball, friendship, and firsts. The foundation had been built.
2023. Bigger Dreams in the Smoky Mountains.
The following year brought us to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee where Casey's Clubhouse became part of history by competing in the first inclusive tournament ever held at the Ripken Experience.
Leagues from across the country gathered together to celebrate the game we all love. Former Major League catcher and manager Mike Matheny joined us throughout the experience, making an already special week even more memorable.
Between games, families relaxed together at Dollywood's DreamMore Resort, spent an unforgettable day at Dollywood, and laughed their way through Pirates Voyage Dinner Theater.
It was proof that inclusion doesn't stop when the games end.
2024. If You Build It...
In 2024, our athletes trained like college baseball players at the University of Illinois before heading west to one of the most iconic places in sports.
The Field of Dreams.
Walking through the cornfields in Dyersville, Iowa isn't something you ever forget.
Neither is watching our athletes step onto that legendary field with friends from Dubuque and Sioux City while ghost players, including several who appeared in the original movie, joined in the fun.
The journey ended in Chicago with a visit to historic Wrigley Field, allowing our families to experience another baseball cathedral together.
If you build it, they will come.
They certainly did.
2025. Twice the Memories.
One trip simply wasn't enough.
Our first adventure brought us to Cooperstown, New York where athletes played on historic Doubleday Field, shared dinner among baseball legends inside the National Baseball Hall of Fame's Plaque Gallery, gathered around nightly bonfires, and created friendships that continue today.
From there, we headed into New York City to watch the Yankees, experience Broadway, and see the spectacular production of Wicked.
Then, thanks to a generous grant, we packed our bags again.
Our fall trip to the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach became unforgettable for another reason. Many of our athletes experienced the beach and the ocean for the very first time.
Watching families celebrate those simple moments reminded all of us that these trips are about far more than baseball.
We finished the week cheering on our favorite Red Knight during Medieval Times before heading home with hearts that were completely full.
2026. Returning to the Queen City.
This summer, we returned to Cincinnati for another unforgettable experience. Together with the Joe Nuxhall Foundation, Casey's Clubhouse hosted the largest travel tournament in our organization's history.
160 athletes from 6 states came together for baseball, riverboat cruises, pool parties, professional baseball, dancing, and friendships that crossed state lines.
Every year, the experience gets a little bigger.
Every year, the impact grows even more.
CLICK HERE to read an incredible news story and see some video from the trip.
Why We Travel
The greatest moments rarely happen between the foul lines.
They're found watching an athlete confidently check into a hotel by themselves.
They're found hearing a parent say their son or daughter made their first friend outside their hometown.
They're found watching families who once felt isolated realize they're now part of a much larger community.
Travel creates confidence. It creates independence. It creates belonging.
Those lessons don't end when the bus pulls back into the parking lot. They stay with our athletes long after the suitcases have been unpacked.
You Can Help Write the Next Chapter
Experiences like Palm Beach don't happen without incredible supporters. Transportation, lodging, meals, admission tickets, adaptive activities, equipment, and scholarships all require generous community partners who believe every individual deserves the opportunity to experience the world beyond their hometown.
Whether you're a business looking to sponsor an entire experience, a family wanting to provide scholarships, or an individual who simply wants to make a difference, you can help create memories that last a lifetime.
Your support isn't paying for a baseball trip.
You're helping someone board their first flight.
You're helping a family make memories they never thought were possible.
You're helping friendships form across hundreds of miles.
You're proving that every athlete deserves the chance to dream big.
As we prepare for Palm Beach in 2027, we can't wait to see where the road takes us next. Because when Casey's Clubhouse travels, we're not just visiting new places. We're opening new worlds.
If your company or family would like to become a Travel Experience Sponsor, we'd love to have you join the team. Together, we can continue giving athletes with disabilities opportunities that extend far beyond the baseball field.
The journey is just getting started.
