8 Nov 09--Our last day here, and we finally find the crown jewel of this area. Jekyll Island is about 45 minutes north of St Mary's, and it is really nice. It has a little of everything: beaches, golf, horseback riding, hike and bike trails, and even a water park. It even has a little history...haha!
The first person to live here was Major William Horton, a British officer, in 1736. These are the remains of his house.
Jump to 1791, and a French guy named Poulain Du Bignon, fleeing the French Revolution, buys and lives in this same house. He and some of his descendants are buried in this cemetary. By 1800 he owns the whole island.
The French guy's descendants own the island until 1886, when John Du Bignon sells the island to a group called the Jekyll Island Club. And who are they you ask? None other than 53 of the richest men in the country...including JP Morgan, Joseph Pulitzer, a Rockefeller, and a Vanderbilt.
These guys all built "cottages" for themselves and their families...here are a couple. This one is the Rockefller place. The porch wraps completely around the entire cottage.
And here is another.
There were more cottages, but I didn't get pictures of them all. But here is what else they built.
They built a "clubhouse", which is a restaurant/hotel/gathering place for themselves and any other guests they have invited. It is huge!
Then they build themselves another complex that is made up of individual apartments...right across the street from Rockefeller's house...this is a place they can go to dinner in their seperate places without having to mix with other people's guests. I guess they really didn't want to stay in their own cottages.
And along with all of this, Jekyll Island is a State Park...so everything is reasonably priced, or even cheap by today's standards. They have an RV park with about 200 sites in it, 3 golf courses that are really nice,
And along with all of this, Jekyll Island is a State Park...so everything is reasonably priced, or even cheap by today's standards. They have an RV park with about 200 sites in it, 3 golf courses that are really nice,
and beautiful beaches. Of course Cathy thought it was cold, but it was about 75 degrees...and the water was certainly a lot warmer than in Maine and NH! I would definately stay here in the RV park for a month...it is beautiful!
Hope you get a chance to visit Jekyll Island again. It's beautiful all year round, but especially in Christmas (they call it "Holiday Island" then). Kids love it!
ReplyDeleteFor two months, in January and February I think, they have an Island Treasure hunt. They hide beautifully crafted glass globes (reminescent of glass floats fishermen used to use in by-gone days to keep their nets afloat) all over the island, and it's great fun seeking these keepsakes out.
Have fun on you RV sojourn!
I love the water pictures, always wanted to run along the shore like that.
ReplyDeleteIt actually looks like you are a little nervous what are you expecting???? And tell Cathy, she needs to go in the water!
ReplyDeleteNo I am not nervous...just playing in the water. And it has to be bath waterfor Cathy to get in!
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