We jumped on our bikes this morning and headed down to the Historic District to the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. This is a stunning old building that reminds me of a castle. Once the hunting lodge of the rich and famous it is now a functioning hotel where anyone can stay. Well, if you have the money. It has a welcoming atmosphere however and you can browse the shops, go into the restaurants, lounges or bars even if you aren't staying there. There is an aura of old decadence and a gilded age. We took a tour of the Hotel with the Concierge, Sherri, for $10.00 each. On this tour we saw a couple of the more expensive suites as well as meeting rooms and heard lots of anecdotes about the famous people who once stayed here. Sherri is a history buff with an obvious love for this place. The Hotel is owned by 6 investors and is lovingly preserved and restored by carefully picked employees. It doesn't turn a profit since all the money goes to keep the old building going.
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| A view of the courtyard from inside. |
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| Waiting in the atrium to start the tour. |
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| Entrance to the Grand Dining Room. |
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| Boar Hunting was a main occupation of J.P. Morgan and gang. This fellow hangs in one of the lounges. |
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| Wrap around porches with wicker furniture give this place a most peaceful atmosphere. |
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| One of the famous dining/meeting rooms. The colours are gorgeous. |
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| This porch was closed in so it could be enjoyed in all weather. |
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| An addition to the dining room. |
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| The atmosphere in here is hard to describe. |
Jekyll Island was bought by Club Members in 1886 to be used as a winter getaway for hunting at first and then recreation. It was not for men only...this was a rare place where women and family members were included. Members were some of America's most wealthy and influential business tycoons and financiers, including names J.P. Morgan, Rockefeller, Pulitzer, Vanderbilt and Crane to mention just a few. Members often arrived on their own yachts and staff were transported by steamer. When the "Clubhouse" became too small many built "cottages" which were more like mansions to regular people. The club closed in 1942 though it's decline had begun sooner. Georgia State entered the picture in 1946 but Jekyll remained in decline and was actually going through a condemnation process. Thankfully the "Clubhouse" and "cottages" were saved from being torn down. In 1971 the State tried to rejuvenate Jekyll as a tourist area but it wasn't until 1978 when the complex was designated as an historic landmark that survival was assured. The Hotel opened for business as a luxury resort destination in 1985. and restoration have been ongoing ever since.
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| Fragrant Snap Dragons. |
John and I haven't been to Jekyll for a couple of years and evidence of restoration and upgrading of facilities is heartening. This is such a unique and gorgeous place; a combination of luxury and nature that is accessible to everyone.
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| A view from the outside. The hotel is so big you can't get it all in at once. |
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| After the tour we headed down to the Wharf where the wealthy landed their yachts, for a refreshment. This is one of the most pleasant places to sit and enjoy the Intracoastal waterway. |
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| Biking back to the north end of the Island we saw this container ship coming out of the Port of Brunswick, past Jekyll and St. Simon's Island on it's way to who knows where. From this view it looks like it is on land. This is a busy port. |
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| Huge trees and gorgeous vegetation make riding here a pleasure that no matter how many times we visit we never get tired of it. |
