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Jekyll Island, Georgia is a popular senior tourist destination located near Brunswick.

Jekyll Island GA History

Native Indians first began using Jekyll Island as a seasonal retreat about 2,500 b.c. When the first French and Spanish explorers arrived on Jekyll Island in the mid-1500’s it was already occupied by Native Americans, first by the Timucua and later by the Guale Indians.

By 1738, Major William Horton was living on the island raising cattle and corn for nearby settlements. Individuals farmed on the island until the 1880’s.

In December of 1885, Newton Finney and Oliver K. King founded the Jekyll Island Club. The club was a private resort retreat for many of America’s wealthiest families. For over 50 years, families such as the Rockefellers, Morgans, Macys, Vanderbilts, and Goodyears spent time on Jekyll Island each year during the Winter and early Spring. The island was popular because of its mild climate and many outdoor activities. The Jekyll Island Club flourished through the 1920’s, but interest in the Club began to decline during the Great Depression. World War II led to the close of the Jekyll Island Club with the threat of enemy submarines just off the coast.

Jekyll Island Georgia – Island Vacations & Relaxation

The State of Georgia purchased the Island on October 7, 1947 for $675,000. Since then, the Jekyll Island Club has re-opened and the island is again a popular tourist destination. Senior visitors have many choices for accommodations and activities on the island.