Savannah to Jekyll Island: Explore Historic Jekyll

There’s a local saying that once your feet touch the sands of Jekyll Island, you’ll always come back. Whether you’re making the scenic journey from Savannah to Jekyll Island or visiting from afar, the island’s 10 miles of sprawling beaches, historic ruins, and abundant wildlife make it easy to see why so many have fallen in love with this coastal gem.

Jekyll Island At A Glance

• Location: Part of Georgia’s Golden Isles, 90 miles south of Savannah.
• Top Attractions: The Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Driftwood Beach, and the Millionaire’s Village.
• Historic Significance: Former winter retreat for the Gilded Age elite (Rockefellers, Morgans, and Pulitzers).
• Nature Highlights: Home to the Plantation Oak, a 350-year-old live oak tree.

What is the History of Jekyll Island?

Situated within the chain of the Golden Isles off Georgia’s coast, Jekyll Island is just a few miles away from St. Simons Island, Sea Island, and Brunswick. From the moment you turn down the long, marsh-lined drive you know you’ve arrived somewhere special. Wandering under a canopy made from the twisting limbs of live oak trees, so large and so old their branches have often grown into the ground and back up again, it’s easy to believe that you’re walking with the shadows of guests from another era.

Prior to British colonization, the island’s first inhabitants were Native Americans. After the founding of Savannah in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe, the island was named for Sir Joseph Jekyll, a financial supporter of the colony. It served as home to prosperous plantations until the end of the Civil War.

Who were the members of the Jekyll Island Club?

In 1886, Jekyll Island was purchased by a group of wealthy families as a private retreat. By 1900, the island functioned as an exclusive hunting club and winter getaway for the “who’s who” of American tycoons. At its peak, the Club’s membership represented one-sixth of the world’s total wealth, including:

• William Rockefeller: Standard Oil executive.
• J.P. Morgan: Legendary financier.
• William K. Vanderbilt: Railroad and shipping magnate.
• Joseph Pulitzer: Renowned publishing pioneer.

Designed by Architect Charles Alexander, the Jekyll Island Club officially opened in 1888. This Queen Anne-style structure featured superb detailing, including hardwood paneling, stained glass windows, and—a rarity at the time—indoor plumbing.

What are the historic “Cottages” of Jekyll Island?

Members prized the island for its beautiful landscape, moderate climate, and sense of isolation. They would arrive in the winter by private rail cars and luxurious yachts to their own little paradise, an exceptional way to avoid a cold and snowy winter in the North. The islands’ trees, ornamented with Spanish moss and the deep greens of Resurrection Ferns after the rain, adorned the same landscape they once walked, silent sentinels in the passing of time.

Club members enjoyed a wide selection of outdoor activities, several of which are still available for visiting guests today, including golf, tennis, croquet, and horseback riding. Several members built “cottages,” which they considered simple, but typically had 15 to 25 rooms. Moss Cottage, for example, has 13 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms (just imagine trying to clean that on the weekend!), while the Italian Renaissance revival style Cherokee Cottage has 12 bedrooms and two kitchens. Several of these homes are available to stay in, and two are explored during our tour.

Why did the “Millionaire’s Club” end?

The Jekyll Island Club flourished through the 1930s, but World War I and the Great Depression took their toll and the Club’s membership fell away. During World War II, the government ordered the evacuation of the island due to the threat of submarines off the coast and effectively brought an end to the Millionaire’s Club.

While the state purchased the island in 1947 and opened it to the public as a state park in 1948, several of the cottages fell to ruin. After a decade of neglect and abandonment, two friends, one a lawyer and the other an architect, climbed through an unlocked window and fell in love with the deteriorating Clubhouse. They painstakingly restored the Clubhouse to its original splendor and re-opened it as a hotel.

What are the best things to do on Jekyll Island today?

Once you visit Jekyll Island, you’ll find a quiet calm not easily found in the hustle of day-to-day life. For those planning a visit, a perfect day trip includes:

• Narrated Tram Tour: Explore the Millionaire’s Village with stops at historic Gilded Age homes.
• Georgia Sea Turtle Center: Learn about the rehabilitation and rescue efforts for Georgia’s marine life.
• The Plantation Oak: Visit the largest and oldest tree on the island, estimated to be 350 years old.
• The Jekyll Island Museum: Deep dive into the artifacts and stories of the Golden Isles.

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