The Morgan Center renovation is well underway. This $3.5 million renovation is scheduled to be complete in the beginning of September. Right now, crews are busily working on the 1,800 square foot kitchen facility. The framework and initial electrical and plumbing work for the kitchen are all complete.

In the coming week(s), crews will be tackling the flooring on the Mezzanine level and installing the main elevator.

Once complete, the renovated center will have 4,900 square feet of conference space on the main level and 1600 square feet of space on the mezzanine level.

For more information about the Morgan Center, please visit our website. Or, to schedule a conference, wedding or special event, please contact the Jekyll Island Club Hotel sales team at sales@jekyllclub.com or at 912-635-2600, ext. 1070.

With the Beach Music Festival and BBQ Bash just weeks away, we will be periodically bringing you sneak previews of some of the teams competing in this year’s BBQ competition.

Teams are traveling from across Georgia and even North Carolina to showcase their BBQ cooking skills. All hoping that they have the winning recipe. Let’s meet one of the teams.

Lang BBQ Smokers- Nahunta, GA

With 22 years of experience, these Barbecue connoisseurs will not be easy to take down. While some teams swear by their top secret dry rub or sauce, this team relies on their smoker to draw out great flavors. With four different custom smokers to choose from, this team definitely will have no shortage of that signature rich smoky taste.

Do you think your BBQ recipe is a winner? It’s not too late to sign up for this year’s competition. The cooking, or should I say, smoking begins on August 20th.

Disclosure: Lang BBQ Smokers is also a sponsor for this year’s Beach Music and BBQ Festival.

Watch this video for an aerial tour of Indian Mound Cottage, one of the newly restored and renovated cottages in Jekyll Island’s Historic District.


This cottage was once a vacation home for William and Almira Rockefeller, who stayed there in the early 1900s. They oversaw the additions and renovations that gave Indian Mound Cottage its present day appearance.


Tours of the Indian Mound Cottage are available seven days a week. For more information, contact the Jekyll Island Museum Staff.

It’s summer time! That traditionally means it’s time to grab the swimsuits and beach towels and pack the car for a good ole’ American road trip.

Jekyll Island is one destination that is increasing in popularity this summer. According to the Jekyll Island Authority Board of Directors, revenue for the island increased significantly in June.

Hotel revenue rose 28 percent from this time last year. Most notably, the newly constructed Hampton Inn & Suites made $500,000 in revenue. The Jekyll Island Club Hotel also saw a 25 percent increase in sales.

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Summer Waves Water Park and several local restaurants all saw a surge in sales.

In addition to more people visiting the island, there were also several big conventions on Jekyll Island last month.

“Leveraging events to gain earned media and focusing on  internet marketing is paying off,” stated Eric Garvey, JIA Chief 
Communications Officer. “We are in a good position. Our message is out there and we are being rewarded with incremental business.”

Ben Porter, Chairman of the JIA Board of Directors Marketing Committee, echoed the optimism. “These results are a reflection of the 
staff’s hard work and commitment, and I am very pleased with the  direction we are heading.”

To view more information on the increase in summer travel, click here.

Check out these aerial views that our photographer captured from a helicopter tour over Jekyll Island, Georgia. In this video, you can see the revitalization plans in action.

Join us for the third annual Shell-e-brate Earth Day Family Festival! This shell-e-bration features recycled crafts, earth-tastic activities and eco-entertainment for the whole family!

Sea you there from Noon to 4pm in Jekyll Island’s historic district at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center! The event is free with paid admission to the Center. $6 for adults, $4 for children 4-12, and children 3 and under are free.

Visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s website for more information.

4-15-10 JEKYLL & ST. SIMONS ISLANDS FISHING REPORT

By Captain Vernon Reynolds

Fishing is improving in the waters surrounding Jekyll, St. Simons and Cumberland Islands.  Whiting fishing is the best bet.  A few Bull Reds are being taken.  Sea Trout and Redfish are moving into area sounds as the water warms.  Sheepshead are taking up residence on near shore reefs.

Whiting are smallish, the world record being only about four pounds.  Most range from a half pound to two and a half pounds.  But what they lack in size they make up in pure numbers.  Often more than 100 can be caught in just a few hours fishing.  On top of that Whiting are one of the best eating fish in our, or any other, area.

On any Saturday or Sunday for the next 10 to 12 weeks there will be over 75 boats bobbing up and down in the waters off the King & Prince Hotel on St. Simons Island.  All of these boats will be Whiting fishing.  And all of the boats will be catching Whiting.

Whiting are bottom feeders, and can be easily fooled with a small piece of shrimp or squid.  Terminal tackle is the traditional fish finding rig.  An 18 inch length of 20 pound test mono leader is attached to the main line via a small swivel.  A 2/0 wire gold hook is attached to the other end of the leader.  An egg sinker just heavy enough to stay on the bottom is placed on the main line above the swivel.  I like a one and a half to a two ounce sinker depending on the current.  Fifteen pound test mono spooled onto a Pflueger 7040 Medalist spinning reel works well.  Attach the reel to a Shakespeare six and a half foot medium action, Ugly Stick Lite Spinning rod and you have a whiting outfit.

Fishing method is simple, cast the bait out and let it sink to the bottom.  Take up the slack line and wait for the bite.  If there is no bite in a few minutes slowly drag the bait to you by lifting the rod tip.  Drop the rod tip and pick up the slack.  Wait 30 seconds and repeat until the bait is near the boat.  This method covers a lot of water and usually produces a fish before the bait is back to the boat.

The minimum legal size for Whiting is 10 inches, (there is no creel limit) there is not much meat on a 10 inch fish so I suggest only keeping those 12 inches or better.  Twelve inch and better fish produce fair fillets.  There is nothing better than a pile of golden brown, fried Whiting fillets stacked high and a big bowl of stiff cheese grits.  Add a few dozen hushpuppies, a little cold slaw and a glass of sweet ice tea; what more can I say?

Coastal Expeditions Charter Fishing And Dolphin Tours is owned and operated by Captains Vernon Reynolds and Eric Moody.  Contact us at (912) 265-0392 for further information or to book a charter.  Whiting fishing is just right for the kids.

TAKE A KID FISHING!!!!

Eatin’ Shrimp on Jekyll Island | Washington Times Communities.

Eatin’ Shrimp on Jekyll Island

We are happy to announce that Blackbeard’s Seafood Restaurant is now serving lunch 7 days a week (effective Monday 4/5/10). Our focus over the last half of March was to make sure the product and service being delivered at dinner exceeded the guest’s expectations.  We are very pleased with the positive comments from locals and visitors to the island.  While we will continue to refine our evening service we feel confident that now is the time to extend our reach to lunch and provide the same attention to detail as we have for evening service.

Island field trip fun, educational for Loganville students, chaperones | jacksonville.com.

Thought we’d share a letter the General Manager of the new Hampton Inn & Suites on Jekyll Island received from a guest:

Good Morning Deborah,

I am a Hilton Gold Member and my husband and I just celebrated our 24th Wedding Anniversary and we stayed at your Hotel this past weekend.  I just wanted to say thank you for the sweet little gifts and we had a great time.  I’m so happy that we final have a Hilton on the island.  My family and I have vacationed at Jekyll for several years.  We just live in Callahan, FL so it is a easy hour and half drive.

We look forward to our next stay with you.  Have a wonderful and blessed day.

Cindy Russ

As a way to help everyone “go green” and follow our example of conservation, riding your bicycle to the event will earn $1 off admission to the afternoon festivities. We’ll also be collecting old cell phones and chargers, printer ink cartridges, CROCS footwear and worn-out crayons for recycling as a way to take care of the only planet we’ve got. Please join in the festivities at Shell-e-brate Earth Day Family Festival. The turtles fully endorse this celebration!

On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day event was held as a grassroots effort to promote environmental awareness and conservation.

Now, 40 years later, light-hearted and creative earth celebrations continue across the planet.

Nowhere will this be more evident than at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center when the third annual Shell-e-brate Earth Day Family Festival takes place on April 17 from 12 – 4 PM. The festivities combine creative and informative activities for all ages with our love of sea turtles. In addition to being joined by other conservation -minded organizations, there is an added bonus for 2010 as the Georgia Sea Turtle Center collaborates with the Georgia Conservancy’s FareWhale event to promote awareness of the endangered Northern Right Whale. Turtles and whales together- OH MY!

Last year, over 550 guests flooded the front lawn of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center to take part in the fun. Once again, kids at heart can try their hand at the Recycle Toss game, craft handmade paper, paint a masterpiece at the Styrofoam Plate Press, color a Wearable Paper Bag Carapace, hang out with “Scute,” and decorate a Recycled Journal. New event highlights will include live stage performances and announcing the winner of the Glynn County Litter Critter Art Contest (see below)!

As a way to help everyone “go green” and follow our example of conservation, riding your bicycle to the event will earn $1 off admission to the afternoon festivities. We’ll also be collecting old cell phones and chargers, printer ink cartridges, CROCS footwear and worn-out crayons for recycling as a way to take care of the only planet we’ve got.

Please join in the festivities at Shell-e-brate Earth Day Family Festival. The turtles fully endorse this celebration!

SEEN A LITTER CRITTER LATELY?

Designed by the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, the Litter Critter Contest encourages local Glynn County 3rd graders to be eco-friendly and sea turtle friendly by creating sea turtles out of recycled materials, As part of a county-wide Sea Turtle Education Project (STEP) program, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center is working with elementary school art teachers, classroom teachers, and students to create a sea turtle models from “trash.” Imagination abounds!

These recycled sea turtles will be on display at the St. Simons Island Library March 23 – April 4th, at the Brunswick Library April 5- 10th and at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center April 12- 17th. We invite you to visit these locations to vote on your favorite Litter Critter. Contest finalists will be announced at the 2010 Shell-e-brate Earth Day Event.

date I April 17th
location I The Georgia Sea Turtle Center, 214 Stable Road, Jekyll Island
phone I (912) 635-4444

The excitement, anticipation and the sweet smell of Easter candy will waft through the air once again at the Annual Jekyll Island Easter Egg Stroll on Saturday April 3rd. Holiday clad children ages 10 and under will hunt for hidden Easter Eggs on the manicured lawn of Jekyll Island’s Historic District. Eggs, will be hidden and re-hidden throughout the event. Everyone has a chance! Once found the treasured eggs are turned in for holiday sweets.

Even the Easter Bunny will be on hand for family photos at the event that runs from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Come join the fun and take an Easter Egg Stroll on Jekyll Island.

Saturday April 3rd, 2010 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Jekyll Island’s Historic District