Jeykll Island, Georgia

Jekyll Island was once an exclusive winter retreat for some of America's wealthiest families. Their exclusive Jekyll Island Club, a collection of "cottages" and a variety of support structures are now a National Historic Landmark, the Historic District is open to the public. Today, owned by the State of Georgia, the island retains much of its natural beauty and offers a wealth of amenities and activities including 63 holes of golf, tennis, beaches, 20 miles of bike paths, mini-golf, nature tours and Summer Waves waterpark.

Golfers will find plenty to captivate their interest on Jekyll and the mainland, with 234 holes of golf on 16 different courses. Or, try your luck aboard the Emerald Princess casino/cruise ship, which offers afternoon and evening cruises from downtown Brunswick.

Brunswick & The Golden Isles offer a great selection of accommodations, ranging from convenient Interstate hotels to island resorts, waterfront hotels, and small inns. Several companies offer rental cottages and there are three campgrounds: two on the mainland and one on Jekyll Island. Getting to
Brunswick & The Golden Isles is a snap.

The Beaches of Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island experiences two high tides and two low tides each day. The tides reach 6 to 9 feet, a situation unique as compared to normal water patterns along the East Coast. Every 6 hours 12.5 minutes, Jekyll experiences a change in tides. The tides pervade deeply inland due to high tides and the gradual slope of Georgia's Coastal Plain, which results in the most expansive marshes of the entire Atlantic Coast.

It is interesting to note that Jekyll Island beaches are "tide formed." The continental shelf extends far out from Jekyll Island, causing oceanic waves to lose their energy long before they reach the shoreline. We therefore experience very small waves and shallow waters as compared to beaches formed as a result of wave patterns.

After a devastating hurricane in 1964, President Johnson found it necessary to import boulders from throughout the state of Georgia to Jekyll Island to create a breakwater. Various factors have contributed to the erosion of our beaches on Jekyll Island including storms, tides and human impact. The boulders were placed along the northern shoreline in an effort to prevent further beach erosion. During periods of high tides, the ocean reaches the rocks but during low tide there is 30 feet of beach for your personal enjoyment.

There is an ample amount of sand beach between the rock barrier and the natural dunes which provide an expansive space for play and exploration in an undisturbed natural environment.

Jekyll Island Sand Dunes
Our sand dunes are home to millions of species of plant and animal life. These communities are protected by the State of Georgia. It is our goal to promote the preservation of these natural habitats. According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, "these sand dunes form a natural buffer and protect upland homes, hotels and other buildings from the tides, winds, waves and storms. Morning glory vines, ghost crabs, sea gulls, Spanish bayonets and sea oats all made their home in and around the sand dunes. Many shorebirds lay eggs directly on the sand in the dune area. Even the threatened loggerhead turtles come ashore during the summer months to lay their eggs in the warm sands of our coast. The dunes are extremely fragile and the plants which hold the sand in place are easily killed by foot traffic.

Miles of bike trails, tennis courts, golf courses, miniature golf, a water park, summer theater, fine dining and entertainment, boat rides, historic tours, boat rentals, great inshore and offshore fishing, and of course 10 miles of beach await you on Jekyll Island.

Your experience here on Jekyll Island will be relaxing and fun, as well as educational. You will have the opportunity to see and experience some of the natural wonders and natural history unique to Jekyll Island.

ExploreJekyllIsland.com thanks you for your cooperation in helping to preserve these delicate and precious ecosystems!

History of Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island is rich in history and legend. Native Americans, Spanish missionaries, English settlers, French planters, millionaires, modern residents and tourists have all played a part in the evolution of Jekyll Island. Jekyll Island is now a family resort with ten miles of public beaches. The Jekyll Inn is the largest oceanfront resort on the Island, with 15 acres of oceanfront property.

After a period of private plantation ownership ending with the DuBignon family, the Island was sold to a group of very wealthy individuals who formed the Jekyll Island Club, including such family names as Rockefeller, Pulitzer, Vanderbilt, Crane, Goodyear, Macy, J.P. Morgan and others. One-sixth of the world's wealth vacationed on Jekyll Island at that time. The conferences leading to the development of the Federal Reserve Bank were held at the Jekyll Island Club. Jekyll Island was also a participant in the first transcontinental telephone call on January 25, 1915. In 1946, Jekyll Island was purchased by the State of Georgia and is currently maintained as a state park.

Natural History of Jekyll
Jekyll Island is one of the most unique barrier islands on the Atlantic Coast. "Barrier Islands form most of the beaches of the Atlantic and Gulf states. The term barrier refers to the protective role that the islands and their marshes play in shielding mainland from oceanic storms." (A Guide to Georgia Barrier Island, Taylor Schoettle). During the fall, plants that make up the marshland turn a gold color, hence the term "Golden Isles." Another interesting fact is that Georgia shrimp are born in the marshlands, and without them, the shrimp population would not exist.

Relax and absorb the rich and diverse history of the area. The Island is a natural wonderland, home to many unique plant and animal species.