On a beautiful sunny day, we decided the dingy needed a little exercise, so we took off for Jekyll Island to explore. Our trip to the island was accompanied by a pod of dolphins in the bay who came within a few feet of our little boat. I love watching them as they fish and play in the water.
On arriving, we asked the tour boat operators at the dock where we could tie off. They were astounded that we asked permission since no one apparently does…what is the matter with people?? They were incredibly nice and told us they were happy to let us tie off to their dock since we asked nicely!
Wandering around the old historic area of the island, you can see the restored Jekyll Island Clubhouse, along with the cottages and outbuildings from the island’s heyday as vacation homes for the rich and famous. The club was formed in 1886 with members from many affluent families, including the Rockefeller, Vanderbilt and Morgans. The clubhouse was completed in 1888. As we wandered by, there were people playing croquet on the clubhouse lawn and cocktails being served on the terrace. It is like stepping back in time.
We wandered the paths amongst the cottages while sipping a cool drink. The temperature was in the 90’s but there was a pleasant breeze off the water. Massive oak trees dripping with moss provide shade to keep us cool. The “cottages” are enormous with various styles of architecture, including Italian Renaissance, Mediterranean and Dutch Colonial Revival. One building had the original glass panes in the windows and we could see the unique inconsistencies in the glass.
In 1910, several of the nation’s most prominent bankers snuck out of New York and travelled to Jekyll Island to draft the Aldrich Plan, which eventually became incorporated into the Federal Reserve Act. The meeting was held in total secrecy and this island is the perfect place to escape!
The docks look out over the intercoastal waterway. Back in the day several of the island’s residence would arrive by boat. John Piermont Morgan had a 304-foot yacht that was too large to come to the dock, so it was a frequent resident at anchor off the island during the winter months. I imagine it was quite an obstruction to the narrow waterway here and an irritant to local fishermen.
If you are looking for a great place to escape for a day in the Georgia low country to relax and recharge with a touch of history thrown in, Jekyll Island is your perfect destination.
