Jekyll Island, Georgia

We traveled 25 NM to Jekyll Island, and are moored at the Jekyll Harbor Marina.  Jekyll Island is a state park and 65% of the island is undeveloped.  The island was bought by a group of wealthy northerners (bad word here) in 1885 for $125,000.  Names such as  Goodyear, Rockefeller, Pulitzer, Vanderbilt and Morgan were among the original 53 members who wanted a winter hideaway.  They built a private hunting resort, with golf, tennis, etc.  Many members built private cottages.  During its heyday, 1/6th of the worlds' wealth was congregated here.  The 53 plutocrats and their families would come from January through March with about 1000 servants and led a grand life hunting, fishing and entertaining.  The Great Depression, two world wars, and the development of Florida took its toll over time, and after World War II the island was sold to the State of Georgia for back taxes and now is a state park with the old hunting club area now dubbed  Millionaires’ Village.  Some of the private hunting cottages have been restored, and the Jekyll Island Club is now a swank tourist destination.  Our marina is in the park away from the hotel, but has a pool and hot tub.  Next door is an open air restaurant with a band tonight, so we are putting on our feed bags.  Tomorrow we break out the bikes and explore downtown. 

We went to the restaurant and had a decent meal, but the band was a hoot.  The "Swamp Rats" looked like stand ins for the Deliverance movie, but played and sang some of the best R&B I've ever heard.  The restaurant is open air, under huge oaks, and exactly how I pictured rural Georgia.  We had a great time.  

The water here is just like home-brown and muddy.  Even the Atlantic waters for several miles out are cloudy.  There is a river to brackish to salt estuary system here very similar to home.  The Georgia ICW is just a system of small channels connecting the various rivers, bays and natural channels.  There is much shoaling due to the strong currents and lack of funding for dredging, so we have to be on our toes when navigating the waterway.  The ICW here is much less developed than Florida, and has been an interesting contrast.  Fewer ugly mansions, no wake zones, and boaters.  More nature, mudflats, tides, and navigational challenges. 

A nuclear  sub was at the base when we went by.  The patrol boats kept a wary eye on us!  It was weird seeing a sub base on the ICW, much less coming so close to it.  

This reminded me of Melvin's boat, only it is running....

Jekyll Marina.

The marina has floating docks, which is nice considering 6' tides.  Note the angle of the ramp during low tide.  

One of the many walking/bike trails on the island.  We have folding bikes that fit on the boat, and are our primary means of land transportation.  

One of the private hunting cottages.  8000 square feet!

Click on this pic and it tells the Goodyear story.  Note a common theme, that the men all died before they could enjoy life.  Being on the Loop is good!

Click on this one to read about the boats used by the owners.  

One of the few tows we have seen on the Atlantic ICW.  Note the mud flat and skinny channel at low tide.  

The old clubhouse, now a hotel.