Beginning New Year’s Day and continuing through the months of January and February, the Jekyll Island Authority hosts “Island Treasures on Jekyll Island”, a unique treasure hunting experience on Georgia’s most popular public beach. The treasures are hand-crafted glass floats, called Island Treasures. The glass floats have been sought after by Jekyll Island guests since 2002. Each is unique and stamped with the year to be a collector’s item for the lucky beachcomber who finds one.

Island Treasures mimic glass floats once used on the fishing nets of fishermen in the early 1900s. The floats would sometimes break loose and wash ashore for lucky beachcombers to find and keep. Collecting these glass floats became a hobby in the 1950’s, declined as commercial fishing moved to plastic and Styrofoam floats. Glass fishing floats became more rare and are highly sought after and very valuable today.

During these first two winter months, the Jekyll Island Authority recreates this hunt-and-find experience is recreated. The glass float treasures are the works of commissioned artists from across the country. “Beach Buddies” hide them along the shore line every day for lucky visitors to find and keep. Treasure finders can register their Island Treasure at the Jekyll Island Visitor Information Center to receive a bio on the artist and a certificate of authenticity. The Jekyll Island Visitor Information Center has Island Treasure floats and an array of the other colorful glass creations for purchase in-store or online at www.jekyllisland.com/islandtreasures.

“Jekyll Island is a popular winter escape for guests from northern states and Canada,” explained Beth Burnsed, Event Marketing Coordinator. “The natural beauty of our beach has its own special rewards to beachcombers, but to find a beautiful Island Treasure is really exciting!”

Since the promotion began six years ago, over 1,000 glass floats have been found by guests from across the U.S., Canada and England. Jekyll Island floats are collector’s items and can be occasionally found on auction sites like eBay.

Those who are unable to visit Jekyll Island can participate in a virtual treasure hunt on www.jekyllisland.com. Search the website for small, hidden Island Treasure pictures. The first person to click on one will win an actual Island Treasure that will be shipped to them.

Participating hotels have special programs and packages to celebrate Island Treasures on Jekyll Island. Jekyll Island has seven hotels open and operating, including the boutique Beachview Club. Other hotels include the Oceanside Inn & Suites, Quality Inn, Jekyll Oceanfront Clarion Resort, Villas By The Sea, Jekyll Island Club Hotel and the Days Inn & Suites. For more information on Island Treasures and other events on Jekyll Island, visit www.jekyllisland.com or call 1-877-4JEKYLL.

Tags: beach treasure, glass fishing floats, island treasures, island treasures on Jekyll Island, jekyll island beach, jekyll island convention center, jekyll island golf, jekyll island hotels
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Reposted from CoastalLiving.com (Click here to visit their website and read the entire article )

Leave behind the mainland and sneak away to these heavenly hideaways.

Jekyll Island Club Hotel, Jekyll Island, Georgia
You probably don’t vacation with an entourage that requires a 25-room mansion, but a century ago you might have―if you were a Rockefeller. In the late 1800s, America’s business elite began gathering at Jekyll Island each year for winter vacation. Some stayed in the extravagant clubhouse; others built grand holiday homes nearby. The Jekyll Island Club Hotel now occupies the clubhouse and several other historic buildings, including a couple of the cottages, keeping up the standards splendidly. You can wander the 240-acre Millionaire’s Village and envision yourself in the Gilded Age. And you can play golf and tennis, cruise around the island by bicycle, inhale the fresh salt air on the beach, and ride in a horse-drawn carriage. Rooms from $149; 800/535-9547 or jekyllclub.com.

Text by Steve Millburg

Tags: beach vacation, georgia beaches, georgia coast, jekyll island, Jekyll Island Club Hotel, romantic getaway georgia
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Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Tags: beach vacation, family vacation georgia, fun with kids on jekyll island, georgia beaches, georgia coast, jekyll island vacation
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The staff at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center invites children of all ages to attend the Second Annual Sea-son’s Greetings Open House, December 20, 2008 from 12 PM - 3 PM.  Explore the Exhibit Gallery to learn about sea turtles, visit 11 sea turtle patients in the Rehabilitation Pavilion, enjoy Scute’s Christmas Adventure puppet show, and make sure to see Santa as he makes a special visit to the Center.

To help finish your Christmas shopping, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s Gift Shop is also hosting a 10% off holiday sale through January 15.

This event is free with general admission. Bring your family out for an afternoon of sea turtle education and holiday fun. General admission to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center is as follows: $6 Adults (13+), $4 Children (4-12), 3 and under Free.  The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 AM - 6 PM and closed on Mondays. For more information about Sea-son’s Greetings or the Georgia Sea Turtle Center call 912-635-4444 or visit www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org.

Tags: Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Holiday Island on Jekyll Island, Holidays on Jekyll Island, Sea Turltes
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By Joe Wilkinson

During the gilded age of the late 1880s and until World War II, Jekyll Island was a place where Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Astors, Morgans and Pulitzers would escape the cold New York winters.

More than a century later, however, many of Jekyll Island’s facilities are in disrepair —- so much that even some Boy Scouts trying to earn merit badges don’t find much appeal to this precious coastal asset. Numerous civic and professional groups have scratched Jekyll off their list for annual conventions.

The sad fact is Jekyll has suffered a 23 percent drop in tourism since 1989. It is in desperate need of revitalization, and now is the perfect time to undertake a major redevelopment while protecting the fragile environment as the foremost goal.

Earlier this month, the Jekyll Island Authority finalized a 25-year contract with Linger Longer Communities to revitalize the island. On Monday, the authority made a final amendment to its long-term master plan so redevelopment can proceed in January. For the sake of Jekyll and the people of Georgia, it is time to now move forward and to stop changing the rules and moving the goal line. With this plan for the state to partner with the private sector to carefully redevelop Jekyll, all parties have won.

As someone who has a second home in Glynn County, the future of this island is as important to me as it is to the residents of Jekyll and others who fear the word development. I, too, am an environmentalist. Yet I knew it was important to strike a balance between making Jekyll attractive to the public and not harming the ecosystem including loggerhead turtles and a variety of birds. I believe the state has struck that balance with this developer.

I applaud the Jekyll Island Authority for responding to public concerns and working with the developer to scale back original plans for the 10-mile-long island. It agreed to reduce the size of the 22-acre Beach Village, the largest proposed project.

Concessions include:

> A proposed 141,000-square-foot convention center has been changed to a renovation of the existing convention center at 76,000 square feet.

> A proposal for 725 new hotel rooms has been scaled back to 350 rooms. The original concept was to include three hotels; now there will be two.

> A plan for a 59,000-square-foot retail shopping center has been reduced to 30,000 square feet.

The state will also earn $20 million in the first 15 years of the lease —- money that can be used for beach renourishment or to make repairs to the historic village where the wealthy visitors lodged so long ago.

In today’s economy, Georgia taxpayers are fortunate to find a private partner to operate and build these new facilities at no cost. In addition, a new Jekyll will bring 700 jobs to Glynn County and $94 million in sales tax and $38 million in motel tax revenue to the state and local coffers. That’s not worth another hour of delay because of continued disputes over procedure or the concept of this project.

In 1947, the state bought Jekyll for a bargain, just $600,000. The purpose was to make it a place for all Georgians to revel in a piece of the Golden Isles. As a member of the board of the Jekyll Island Foundation, I believe no one can say they are a true Georgian unless they have experienced the marshes of the island, Jekyll’s dunes or the sea turtles that nest there. Fortunately for all of us, Jekyll will be a much more appealing place thanks to the work those who will give it another Golden Age —- this time, in the 21st century.

>Joe Wilkinson, a state representative (R) from Sandy Springs, is a part-time resident of St. Simon’s Island and a member of the board of the Jekyll Island Foundation.

Tags: jekyll island authority, jekyll island beach, jekyll island board, Jekyll Island Foundation, jekyll island golf, jekyll island hotels, jekyll island revitalization
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On Tuesday, December 16^th, the Jekyll Island Authority presented a comprehensive update regarding the revitalization of Jekyll Island to members of the Jekyll Island Legislative Oversight Committee. The meeting was held at the State Capitol in Atlanta, and lasted approximately 2 hours. The full presentation document is available online at www.jekyllisland.com/news.

Members of the Legislative Oversight Committee in attendance were Committee Chairman Rep. Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons), Rep. Terry Barnard (R-Glennville), Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates), Sen. Ross Tolleson (R-Perry) and Sen. Chip Pearson (R-Dawsonville). Jekyll Island Authority Chairman Bob Krueger delivered a complete update on revitalization that includes five projects and represents over $390 million of private investment to rebuild Jekyll’s aging hotels and convention center. Chairman Krueger gave a detailed description of the recently adopted amendment to the Jekyll Island Master Plan that will allow work on the new Beach Village project to move forward.

Oversight Committee members were pleased with the progress and satisfied with the terms of the recent redevelopment agreements, including the new Revitalization Partnering Agreement with Georgia-based Linger Longer Communities. All new ground leases are tied to the fair market value of the land and include inflation-based increases. Land values range from $600,000 to $900,000 per acre. New leases also include requirements for continued capital investment.

Members raised concern over existing Jekyll Island residential leases that are not tied to land value, and expressed their desire for a remedy. Residential leases were created over fifty years ago and have a fixed ground lease rate. Residential units on Jekyll Island occupy 204 acres, more than four times the amount of land currently under commercial redevelopment. Residential lease revenue to the Jekyll Island Authority from these older leases averages $350 per lease or $1,025 per acre, equivalent to less than 1% of a fair market value-based lease.

Concern over residential leases continued with a discussion and question of how leases on the protected south end will be handled. The southern portion of the island was given special protection in 2006 under HB214. Oversight Committee Chairman Keen asked legislative counsel to determine if residential leases could even be extended in this area of the island.

Jekyll Island Authority Vice-Chairman Steve Croy reinforced the importance of moving forward with Jekyll Island revitalization given the struggling economy and the continued decline in island visitation. Committee members were impressed with the number of Georgia-based conventions that currently meet outside the state but have expressed intention to return to Jekyll Island once new hotels are built.

Rep. Drenner echoed the compliments of committee members with the progress of revitalization, but did express a desire for more information regarding environmental protection. Chairman Krueger shared the elements of Jekyll Island Design Guidelines that encourage LEED-certification for new development, and recent conservation initiatives including the new Wildlife Viewing Platform located on the Jekyll Island Causeway overlooking the Marshes of Glynn.

Sen. Jeff Chapman (R-Brunswick), not a member of the Oversight Committee but whose district includes Jekyll Island, was extended committee courtesy to make remarks. Sen. Chapman applauded efforts to improve Jekyll Island, but referenced a letter distributed to committee members that outlines criticism over revitalization projects. His criticism and call for a halt to revitalization stood in contrast to the support of the committee. Chairman Keen acknowledged receipt of the letter, and asked the Jekyll Island Authority to prepare a complete written response.

A complete video archive of the meeting is available online at http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/house/Committees/GLN/boardcastIndex.htm

Tags: jekyll island, Jekyll Island Legislation, Jekyll Island Oversight Committee, jekyll island revitalization
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The Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division (CRD) and Jekyll Island Authority have announced that renovation of the Jekyll Island public boating access site is complete.  Improvements include a larger, resurfaced boat ramp, a larger boating service dock, and more parking area. This $400,000 renovation was one of four projects made possible by a $1.5 million CRD budget enhancement approved by the Georgia legislature in 2007.

The new ramp is 50-ft wide allowing three boaters to launch or load simultaneously.  It is 130 feet long and extends well below the low tide line making it possible for boaters to safely launch and recover their vessels at all stages of the tide. The service dock now provides 200 feet of perimeter providing space for several boats. Two acres of crushed-limestone-surface parking area was added to the site. The lot also includes handicapped parking and space of anglers fishing in the nearby lake, Ski Rixen Pond.

The boat ramp launches into Jekyll Creek, a popular area for fisherman seeking triple tail, redfish and trout. The ramp is also a favored launch site for kayakers looking to explore the vast salt marsh, creeks, and rivers adjacent to Jekyll Island.  These improvements and expansions will allow more fishermen and kayakers to enjoy Jekyll Island’s intrarcoastal waterways.

In addition to the boat ramp, Ski Rixen Pond is rich fishing location for anglers seeking redfish, speckled trout, and Atlantic croaker. For those visitors wishing to explore the area without fishing, Tidelands Nature Center is a wildlife educational facility and canoe/paddleboat rental location sponsored by the University of Georgia. Tidelands is located on the shore of Ski Rixen Pond and also offers guided kayak tours through the intracoastal waterways. These tours are individual lessons in kayaking and up-close encounters with the eco-systems that border Jekyll Island.

The above picture was taken at the December 15 ribbon cutting. Pictured are members of the Jekyll Island Authority Board; staff of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division; and Jekyll Island Authority Staff. Cutting the ribbon (left to right, holding scissors) are Shawn Jordan, DNR Boating Access Coordinator; Spud Woodward, DNR Asst. Director of Marine Fisheries; and Bob Krueger, Chairman of the Jekyll Island Authority Board.

Tags: jekyll island activities, jekyll island authority, jekyll island authority board, jekyll island boat ramp, jekyll island boating, jekyll island fishing, jekyll island revitalization
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The Jekyll Island Authority is proud to announce the grand opening of the Jekyll Island Recycling Park.  The park not only provides a clean, convenient location for guests and residents to deposit their recyclables, it has also been designed to be eco-friendly.

A key feature of the Recycling Park is the environmental care that went into the design. The Recycling Park was landscaped by the Jekyll Island Authority staff, led by Cliff Gawron, Landscape Supervisor. All plants are native species that will require little supplemental irrigation once they are fully established, aiding in water conservation.  They include sweet grass, cord grass, Florida anise, American Beauty Berry, Saw Palmetto and Southern Shield Ferns. Several mature oaks also grace the site, and every effort was taken to minimize disturbances to these trees during the renovation.

In addition to the native plantings, recycled materials were used for the area’s ground coverings. Refurbished asphalt was used to provide a loose paving surface, and recycled plastic lumber was used to edge the plant borders.  Steel edging near the entrance was salvaged from prior renovations of the Jekyll Island Historic District, and mulch in the landscaped area is grindings from storm damage debris that was collected after tropical storm Fay. These environmentally friendly means of improvement can serve as a model for residents and businesses wishing to re-design their yards and gardens in a green manor.

Coastal Disposal & Recycling will handle the processing of items collected at the site and currently accepts cardboard, aluminum, plastic, and newspaper. In addition, oyster shell is collected at the site by the University of Georgia’s Marine Extension Services and used to rebuild oyster reefs.  Yard waste and construction debris is not accepted at the site; however, the Jekyll Island Authority runs a weekly route to provide curb-side pick-up of yard waste from Jekyll Island residences.

The above picture was taken at the December 15 ribbon cutting. Pictured are members of the Jekyll Island Citizens Association, Jekyll Island Authority Board, and Keep Brunswick Golden Isles Beautiful and Jekyll Island Authority Staff. Cutting the ribbon are Cliff Gawron, JIA Landscape Supervisor and Bob Krueger, Chairman of the Jekyll Island Authority Board.

Tags: jekyll island authority, jekyll island authority board, jekyll island beach, jekyll island conservation, jekyll island golf, jekyll island hotels, recycling center, recycling park
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The Jekyll Island Authority marked the opening of the Wanderer memorial with a commemorative ceremony and ribbon cutting at St. Andrews Picnic Area on November 25.  The Wanderer was the last known slave ship to land in Georgia and the last slaving expedition known to have reached the United States without repercussions. The Jekyll Island Authority Museum hosted ceremonies to celebrate the survivors, their descendants, and the rich heritage they brought to the Georgia Coast.  The exhibit was paid for by fund-raising efforts of the Friends of Historic Jekyll Island paid for the exhibit and its installation.

“We  want to respectfully remember the enslaved Africans who made it to shore that day for the survivors that they were and for all of the remarkable culture and heritage that they passed on to us here in Coastal Georgia,” said John Hunter, Director of the Jekyll Island Museum.  “We hope that both the exhibit and the ceremony will capture that intent.”

Hunter said that the exhibit was designed by Malone Design/ Fabrication out of Atlanta.  “Three billowing sails and three imaginative text panels will tell the story of the Wanderer and a new vision begins to take shape in the landscape and in large scale,” Hunter said.  “The steel sails are roughly 12 feet tall, and through them we can begin to see the beauty of the vessel’s form, but also the cold hard reality of slavery.”

The text panels will cover the ship’s arrival, the trials, the ship’s specifications, the vessel’s fate, what happened to the survivors, some of their personal stories, a timeline, and the significance of the landing.

The exhibit can be visited at St. Andrews Picnic Area on the south end of Jekyll Island.

The above picture includes Mr. Bob Krueger, Chairman of the Jekyll Island Authority Board, and several of the descendants at the ribbon cutting for the memorial.

Tags: georgia beaches, jekyll island history, jekyll island vacation, last slave ship, slavery, the Wanderer
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This great video was sent in by a visitor Robin Diedrichs. Visit her blog!  Thanks for sharing, Robin!

For Thanksgiving we visited Jekyll Island in Georgia as we have every year for the many years. I thought I would post a slideshow here to share with family and friends as well as for those considering visiting Jekyll with kids. Jekyll is such a fun place to visit! Some of our favorite things to do are walk on the “driftwood” beach, take long walks around the island, drive around the island at night to see all the critters (deer, possum, raccoons, owls, armadillos), visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, eat at the Hotel, letterboxing, play on the playground by the putt-putt course, and as of this year visiting Cumberland Island. Check out my slideshow if you are interested in visiting this unique place!

Tags: , beach vacation, fun with kids on jekyll island, georgia beaches, georgia coast, jekyll island vacation
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