During our stay in St. Simons, we headed through Brunswick and over the bridge to Jekyll Island about a 30 minute drive from St. Simons. It was so worth the trip! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and we had a picture perfect day. I was on Jekyll Island in 2013 for the first time when I went there for a conference. It was also during a monsoon and it rained almost the whole time we were there. I was so happy to go back on a sunny beautiful day to see the island and the Jekyll Island Club Resort, an iconic elegant resort filled with history dating back to 1888.
The beautiful Sidney Lanier bridge out of Brunswick heading to Jekyll Island. It’s a beautiful bridge span.
From the Jekyll Island website: 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.
Moss Cottage:
There are historic cottages along the drive into the Jekyll Island Club Resort. The historic district is known as Millionaires Village with 240 acres and 33 historic structures, including the resort. I know it would be fun to stay here for a few days. There are plenty of dining options on the property too.
Goodyear Cottage
Mistletoe Cottage
Indian Mound Cottage
Another view of the same cottage. The property has stunning old trees that are like artwork all around the island. I love the draping moss, truly a picturesque scene that is so easy to take in. Southern landscape at its best.
Dubignon Cottage
The moss, the trees, I can’t get enough of it.
The Jekyll Island Club Resort is truly a step back in time and you feel like you’re in a movie when you walk up and take it all in.
Notice the men in white on the front lawn playing croquet. Yep, it’s still a popular game at the Jekyll Island Club.
Complete with an old car that fits right in with the time period.
They were doing a major renovation under the front portico and a jackhammer and machines were there pulling out all the concrete, so it looks like a major reno is happening there. We managed to go around to the side of the hotel to get a peek inside. I was determined to see inside this time since I missed out last time I was there.
It did not disappoint!
One more look at the exterior of the Jekyll Island Club.
The porches are amazing and I can visualize hanging here and reading a book with a cool drink in the summer.
Isn’t this gorgeou? I bet this place is hopping in the summer months.
It would be fun to stay here, so maybe we’ll go back and do that some day.
Welcome, let’s go inside!
Historic Hotels of America
The inside courtyard.
That moss again! Looking over the spacious pool.
The pool looks gorgeous too.
Inside the gazebo adjoining the dining room.
Beautiful!
The dining room entry
The Grand dining room is absolutely stunning. What a place to dine!
One of the areas for seating and relaxing inside the side door.
Stairs going up.
Fireplace sitting area with bar in far corner. It was so stunning inside, my mouth was hanging open. Mark was outside with Daisy and I went out, took her and told him to go in and take the same route I did to see it.
Just walking around the grounds is so peaceful.
This is one of the Cottage buildings on the grounds which also holds beautiful rooms.
Faith Cottage
Strolling the grounds, you get a feeling of serenity and peace that this island brings. It has houses and condos, hotels and restaurants, but it feels away from it all.
What a treat it would be to stay here for a few days, grabbing a bike and riding around the island.
The Island Sweet Shoppe is open during summer, I’m sure.
This building houses the Cottage rooms of the hotel. We enjoyed our stroll around the grounds and then left to drive around the island a bit before we headed back over the bridge to St. Simons.
The trees are so sculptural and beautiful.
We saw an area with a pretty path that led to the beach walk, so we went down for a peek. It was so beautiful! I can see why people would want to walk this beach walk.
You can see the weathered driftwood that’s seen plenty of storms and salty water.
Raising their branches to the sky, they are beautiful in their own way.
It was definitely worth a stop to see the beach walk and the trees bordering it.
We took a minute to document the moment with a family photo. Daisy had a good time on this trip too and we were glad we could take her.
I’m not part of the elite, but visiting the Jekyll Island Club was definitely a treat. I could stay there with no problem and pretend that I’m rich and famous. It didn’t feel all that stuffy at all, so I think we normies would feel right at home there too. Have you been to Jekyll Island and what did you think? It would take longer than a couple of hours to see everything, but I’m glad we got a peek! Click on the video above for a peek at all we saw!
Traveling with our pet children is just the best!!!
I have a friend who live on Jekyll. I’ve been there several times. Riding bikes in the evening deer are walking around on the streets. It definitely is a step back in time.
Thank you for posting these beautiful pics of the Jekyll Island Resort and its history! Now I’m even more motivated to read/learn about the beginnings of the Federal Reserve….
I have visited St. Simons Island. I was disappointed in the beach by our hotel. I have read a lot of books about the history of St. Simons that were very interesting. But actually I prefer the beaches where I live- St. Augustine.
Beaches around the south are all different for sure. I prefer the Gulf beaches most of all and don’t really love GA beaches, but being at a beach is always nice so I wouldn’t turn any down.
I am a native of North Georgia and have visited Jekyll Island several times. If you delve into the history of the Jekyll Island Club Resort, you will discover numerous ghost stories and mysterious happenings. Guests have reported items in their rooms have been rearranged and their coffee poured in their absence. Some sightings have been of General Aspinwall, a founding member, walking the grounds. More than one bridegroom has inquired about the bellman at the hotel. It seems this “bellman” is dressed in a cap and suit reminiscent of a 1920s movie. He delivers freshly pressed suits to bridegrooms and has been seen mostly on the second floor, locking on the guest room door announcing his delivery. There are many more “sightings” at this resort. Just an FYI.
That’s very intriguing, Cheryl! It is such a lovely place.
Hi Rhoda,
My daughter was married on Jekyll Island 25 years ago and I remember it being very beautiful.
If you get back to the St. Simon’s area, visit my daughter’s restaurant, A Moveable Feast, on Chapel Crossing off the 19, across from the Federal Training Center between 10 and 2:30, M-F, and tell her , “Your Mother Sharon said she would buy me lunch if I came by.” I will tell her to put that in her book of future happenings. Show her your ID and she will make you the most delicious lunch you can imagine. I appreciate your writing and pictures. Thank you for showing some of the best of the South.
Hi, Sharon, thanks so much for the invitation, I’m not sure when we will get back to St. Simons. It was a short trip this time.
Yes, in 1995 my husband and I stayed there for several days. We were inside the hotel itself on the ground floor. We carried our bikes and the hotel stored them for us under a porch. We also ate in the grand dining room. We walked and rode all over the island. We also took a plane tour and saw the descendants of the horses left by the Spanish, the Reynolds tobacco family land and some other celebrity property. I gathered huge shells from the beach there where the movie Glory was filmed. We just had a wonderful time. I purchased a book there that tells the history, as you dud in your blog , of the millionaires who owned it. We laughed at the word “cottage”, which is by no means a cottage to us! When we were there the reception area was done in blue, white and coral. It was a dream to me to be able to do that!
Vicki, that sounds like a wonderful relaxing vacation! I hear you on “cottage”. That’s the same way they describe those mansions in Newport, RI. Nothing cottage about them!
Thanks, Rhoda, for the lovely pictures and tour. What a place! We would love to take a trip there one day. That’s such a nice picture of you and Mark and precious little Daisy! So glad you could take her along with you! I love that little Daisy! We sure miss our little dog “Princess” — and what a little Princess she was!
So glad you enjoyed your trek around Jekyll. We visit St. Simons a lot and occasionally get over to Jekyll. I lived on St. Simons for a couple of years and loved it but family connections dictated my move back to my home area which is about two hours from the islands. I love the Jekyll Island Resort club! We stayed their for our anniversary one year. May I strongly suggest that you visit Jekyll Island during the Christmas season. All those huge trees are full of lights and there are a ton of other decorations, especially around the area of the cottages. There are horse and carriage rides through the area and it is just beautiful at the holidays!
That does sound magical!