History
The island was purchased from John Eugene duBignon in 1886 for $125,000 as a hunting resort by some of the wealthiest men in America, including J.P. Morgan, Joseph Pulitzer, Marshall Field, Everett Macy, William Rockefeller and Cornelius Vanderbilt. Jekyll Island was prized for its "splendid isolation." The club members commissioned a 60-room clubhouse, finished in 1887. The owners would usually spend a couple of winter months at Jekyll Island, arriving by yacht from New York. The Jekyll Wharf where they tied their yachts remains in use. Although Jekyll was a hunting resort, it was built by the richest men in the world. Between 1886 and 1928, the owners built "cottages" -- the largest is almost 8,000 square feet -- along the marsh side of the island where they would be protected from the ocean. Many of these beautiful houses have been restored or are currently a work in progress. The Jekyll Island Clubhouse is now a Victorian hotel. The first golf course was laid out in 1898.
During the Great Depression, the members became disenchanted with the island, which was sold to the State of Georgia in 1947. In 1978, the 240-acre club district was designated a National Historic Landmark. In 1985, work began to restore the Clubhouse and surrounding grounds into a world-class hotel and resort named the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. It is once again a showcase and is available for everyone to enjoy. Today the 240-acre National Historic Landmark is often called "Millionaire's Village."
Why you should go
Outside of the Historic District, Jekyll Island is an easy-going, affordable destination set amid live oaks, Spanish moss, palmetto trees and beautiful beaches. Criss-crossing the Island are more than 20 miles of cycling and walking paths. A sizable portion of the Island is undeveloped.
Main attractions
* Jekyll Island Club Hotel: This building is a member of Historic Hotels of America. Inside, the public rooms are reminiscent of the best of the old. Two of the cottages, Crane and Cherokee, have been beautifully renovated at a cost of $5.5 million. Learn about the Jekyll Island Club's more than 100 years of rich history, including stories passed down through time, when the hotel's concierge conducts a fabulous tour of the Club and Cottages, Monday through Thursday at 2 p.m., year round. www.jekyllclub.com
* Horton House: Major William Horton was granted Jekyll Island by the Trustees of the colony of Georgia in 1738, and he constructed this home in 1743. Horton was one of General James Oglethorpe’s top military aids. He farmed the island, producing crops to aid with supplying Ft. Frederica. They included hops and barley to produce Georgia’s first beer. Eventually, Horton added a warehouse to the site, of which remains still exist. http://www.nps.gov/history/goldcres/sites/horton.htm
How to get there
The drive is about 322 miles and takes approximately 5 hours, 10 minutes. Flights are available to Brunswick Golden Isles Airport.
Links of interest
www.jekyllisland.com
http://www.goldenislesinfo.com/attractions.html
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