From cotton to glamor to relaxation
For much of the 1800s, Jekyll Island was a cotton plantation owned by the Dubignon family. But in 1886, 53 of America’s richest men pooled their funds and purchased the island for $125,000, turning it into their private club. The Rockefellers, Vanderbilts and Pulitzers came here to hunt, play tennis, ride bicycles, or otherwise seek relief from the stress of world domination. In 1904, Munsey’s Magazine described Jekyll Island as “the richest, most exclusive, and most inaccessible club in the world.”
However, World War II strained even the millionaire’s resources. When the Coast Guard patrolled the Georgia coast looking for German submarines, the beaches no longer seemed so attractive. After the 1942 season, the millionaires abandoned the club. Six years later, the island became a state park. “On Saturday, they removed the padlock and threw away the key on Georgia’s fabled Jekyll Island,” the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Since then, ordinary non-billionaire vacationers, beach lovers, and yogis have been free to visit the island.
Besides sunbathing, taking a tram tour through the historic district is one of the most popular activities on the island. Guides describe the lifestyles of the rich and famous of yesteryears and take guests on a tour of two historic family “cottages” – which to most of us look more like mansions.
those who live in Jekyll Island Club Resort They will be immersed in history 24/7 as they wonder which millionaires once slept in their rooms. The club even has some ghost stories. A former club member can sometimes be seen walking on the now-glazed riverside balcony with his hands folded behind his back. Another interrupts guests while they read a newspaper, perhaps still trying to keep up to date with the financial world. The most helpful was a late porter in a pillbox hat who provided dry cleaning services to wedding guests.
yoga retreat
Kelly Boyd, Founder Savannah Yoga Center, said Jekyll Island was the ideal setting for the seven retreats she has led so far. “It’s a magical island with a rich history and a doubly rich aesthetic,” she said. “Swaying moss-covered oak branches, beaches and riverfronts, not too crowded and easily accessible.” Boyd’s retreat is not a grueling retreat. Instead, she welcomes everyone, from beginners to long-time yoga practitioners. They can participate in all activities or choose not to nap, sunbathe or explore the island.
The August retreat kicked off on Friday afternoon with a gentle yoga practice in the club’s air-conditioned ballroom. This was followed by a buffet dinner, including Indian specialties prepared by the resort’s chef, Martin Heys. On Saturday, Boyd offers sunrise yoga at the resort’s beach pavilion and another afternoon class in the ballroom. Chef Hayes gave a cooking demonstration at noon. In addition to this, participants have ample free time. The weekend ends with a Sunday morning meditation walk on the beach, followed by a yoga session and then a hearty breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant.
“I want them to feel like they have an opportunity to pause some of the responsibilities of life, stretch their bodies and minds, be rested, refreshed and recharged,” Boyd said.
what else to do
Back in the club’s heyday, January to March was the island’s millionaire season. But even in August, people can brave the heat and find a lot of fun. Renting a beach cruiser and riding the island’s 20 miles of trails is the best way to explore, even for the most amateur cyclists. The terrain here couldn’t be smoother, and the trails are lined with beautiful trees draped in Spanish moss.
this 4-H Tidelands Nature Center Guided salt marsh kayaking tours are offered almost daily. Paddlers may see stingrays burrowing in the mud, roseate spoonbills snapping in search of shrimp, dolphins playing, and even baby sharks feeding.Or take a guided sunset stand-up paddleboard tour Kingfisher Paddle Adventureled by a former academic with a PhD in conservation biology.
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year to learn about terrapins and visit the fully functional veterinary hospital. Since Dr. Terry Norton founded the center in 2007, more than 3,000 patients have been treated. True sea turtle enthusiasts can pay an additional fee to take a behind-the-scenes look at the facility or accompany staff to sea turtle nesting sites on early summer mornings.
if you go
Brunswick, Georgia has the closest airport to Jekyll Island. If you plan to stay at the Jekyll Island Club and focus your activities there, you can take an Uber and rent a bike to explore the island. If you want to see other nearby islands, you can rent a car in Braunschweig.
