Life in the Slow Lane (The Pearl): June 7

Day 93 – Jekyll Island Club

Jekyll Harbor Marina

We spent the day exploring Jekyll Island, mostly the historic area around the Jekyll Island Club. The Club was started by a group of incredibly wealthy men with names like Vanderbilt, Rockefeller and JP Morgan, so they would have a place to escape the pressures of their busy lives and the cold winters in the northern cities. They used the island as a "members only" private preserve and hunting club during the winter months and erected a clubhouse and apartments where members could stay while on the island. Some members wanted more private and permanent houses, so individual cottages were built around the Grand Lodge. The club flourished from 1886 until the mid 1940’s when changing times brought change to the island. It was sold to the state of Georgia in 1947. Members enjoyed a grand life on the island hunting, playing golf and tennis, swimming, riding horses, walking on the beaches and participating in the new fad at the time “bicycling”.

We enjoyed sitting on the veranda at the Jekyll Island Club visiting with a couple while we waited to have lunch in the Grand Dining Room. The room was elegant and the food was delicious. We visited with another couple in the dining room that gave us wonderful advice on things to see and do in Savannah and Charleston. After lunch we used some of the bike trails to explore more of the island, then it was back to the marina to relax in the pool. We had a great day on this beautiful island.

Jekyll Island Club