The first time I visited Georgia's Jekyll Island, I was a student at Louisville High School. That would be Georgia, not Kentucky, for those who didn't take 8th grade Georgia history where most students learn that Louisville (the "s" is pronounced in this case) was the first "permanent" capitol of Georgia.
My visit to Jekyll some decades ago did not leave much of an impression on me, despite the chance to escape for a week from my small hometown, which had no traffic lights or chain fast-food restaurants, indicators back in the day of how citified your town was.
I was in Jekyll that year for a summer camp with fellow 4-H members from around the state. I don’t remember much about any workshops or activities I participated in or very much about any of the people I spent the week with. I recall that our lodging was in a plain building that was like an old-school dormitory. The state park was OK, but nothing spectacular. Perhaps my young mind was fixated on the word “island,” and I had set some high TV expectations in my head.
Unfortunately, because of that long-ago frame of reference, I have never really felt compelled as an adult to visit this coastal community right outside of Brunswick. Until last week.
After almost 10 years of planning and construction, the Jekyll Island Authority and developers were ready to officially show off a brand new retail shopping village, the Westin hotel, and the fairly new oceanfront convention center next door — not to mention historic treasures such as the Jekyll Club Hotel and the 18th century Horton House.
After a weekend of festivities and ceremonies, Gov. Nathan Deal was on hand Monday morning to rededicate Jekyll Island to the state with a proclamation and pay personal homage to the island, which he referred to as a “patch of heaven.”
I have to be honest, listening to the governor and other speakers tout the island’s rich history, made me embarrassed that I hadn’t had more appreciation as a young teenager. Had it not been for my short visit there last weekend, I wouldn’t have actually used the word “heaven” to describe it. And yet, the first words that came to mind as I drove into the heart of town Sunday morning was “You’ve come a long way, Jekyll.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s reporters Dan Chapman and Leon Stafford have written about the efforts to revitalize the island – even as some Georgians have been vocal about keeping it accessible and affordable to the average resident. After all, state leaders have always pushed the intent that the island be a place that all Georgians could enjoy. In fact, this newspaper has reported that in 1947, Gov. Melvin Thompson referred to Jekyll as “a state park for the plain people of Georgia, and a few years later the Legislature ruled the island remain “available to people of average income.”
The week before my visit I found rates on hotels.com at the shiny new Westin in the $120 range, and the Club Hotel for $150. Not too bad, even for off-season rates.
Over the last 10 years, more than $195 million has been invested in bringing some new luster to the Glynn County barrier island that attracts 2.4 million visitors each year and boasts a $1.1 billion economic impact and $5.5 million in lodging taxes. According to Kevin Langston, deputy commissioner for tourism, the Glynn County area’s economic impact in Georgia trails only metro Atlanta. Langston, who was also at Monday’s dedication, says that, statewide, tourism saves each household in Georgia more than $840 in taxes.
As the leader of the features team, I’m always excited about a destination’s attractions (and shopping, of course) whenever I travel. I met a Johns Creek teenager named MJ who could hardly contain her glee as she talked about her visit earlier in the day to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. I’ve never seen a teen gush that much over a turtle experience. The rehabilitation center lets kids young and old explore the life of these vulnerable and endangered creatures.
My personal highlight, however, was a cooking class led by Club Hotel’s Dale Ford where we made shrimp and garlic emulsion and butternut squash spoonbread. And I came away with an idea of what to finally do with that spiral vegetable peeler my daughter bought me last Christmas. Speaking of Christmas, the island will soon unveil its outdoor ice skating rink thanks to a $15,000 grant from the state.
For certain, the Jekyll that I knew many years ago is all grown up. The Beach Village has already opened about 20 shops and restaurants, along with a pretty classy convention center. But the natural habitat is still the island’s show-stopper, from Driftwood Beach to the scenic Riverview Drive and Wanderer Memorial on St. Andrews beach.
Even the 1980s 4-H Center will get a new facility (to be renamed the Jekyll Youth and Learning Center) in early 2017. I can’t imagine that any teenager — even in this internet-savvy world — wouldn’t be impressed with all that Jekyll Island now has to offer. Just ask MJ.
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