Jekyll Island: A State Park

Since the 1940s, Jekyll Island has gone through a transformation from an exclusive private club where America’s wealthiest families vacationed to a state-owned resort enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year. The changes that came to Jekyll brought both

disappointments and triumphs, and involved people from all walks of life–the former employees of the Jekyll Island Club who remained after its closing in 1942, the military servicemen who were stationed on the island in the early 1940s, the legislators divided over the State of Georgia’s purchase of the island in 1947, and the tourists who continue to enjoy this coastal community into the twenty-first century.

Within these pages, the story of Jekyll’s transformation unfolds. Historic photographs of the island, its early residents, and devoted beachcombers recall the early days when the island was accessed only by ferry and when the elite club reopened as a hotel. Included are images of the island’s continued development, prompted by the 1950 formation of the Jekyll Island Authority, which remains today as the island’s governing entity. Hotels, parks, restaurants, golf courses, and a host of other attractions are featured in this unique retrospective.