Summer Waves Water Park on Jekyll Island is now open all week just in time for Memorial Day weekend. Regular park hours are Monday-Friday are 10 am - 6 pm with extended park hours on Saturday and Sunday.

Summer Waves Water Park offers six rushing water slides, the Turtle Creek lazy river, kiddie play zone, Splash Zone with a giant tipping bucket, and the Frantic Atlantic Wave Pool with waves reaching 2-4 feet high. In addition to cooling off, this season guests can “Have a Rockin Summer” at Summer Waves Water Park with in-park Wii Rock Band and karaoke competitions every weekend. For a quick, cool bite to eat the park features Larry’s Giant Subs and several snack stands serving cool drinks and cool treats.

Park Hours subject to change. For more information contact Summer Waves Water Park at 912-635-2074 or visit www.summerwaves.com. Be a fan of Summer Waves Water Park on facebook.com.

Tags: CU@SummerWaves, georgia beaches, georgia coast, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, georgia water parks, jekyll island, Jekyll Island vacations, larrys giant subs, Memorial Day, Memorial Day weekend vacations, Summer Waves Water Park, water park, water parks, water slides, wave pool
Posted in Press Releases | No Comments »

The Quality Inn and Suites hotel of Jekyll Island, GA is pleased to announce that it was recently recognized as a hotel that “supports green practices” by its franchisor, Choice Hotels International. The Quality Inn and Suites hotel has successfully completed and fulfilled the basic requirements of the company’s “Room to be Green” program, an optional program that allows properties to be recognized for their fulfillment of specific “Green Initiative” requirements.

“We’re very excited to be able to let guests know that we are making efforts to be environmentally conscious,” said Linda Keel, general manager of the Quality Inn and Suites hotel. “We are always working to provide the things that travelers are looking for in their hotels today and by adopting these new ‘green’ practices, we hope to set ourselves apart from the competition.”

As a participant of Choice Hotels International’s “Room to be Green” program, the Quality Inn and Suites hotel has adopted green practices in the program’s core addressable areas of energy conservation, water conservation, and recycling and waste management.  In addition the Quality Inn and Suites hotel uses only biodegradable chemicals, lower water usage showerheads, and donates all old linens, blankets and pillows to the Red Cross or the Humane Society.

Some of the hotel’s new practices that it has already put into place include:

• Energy efficient lighting such as compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs and LED signs.
• A towel and/or linen re-use program, giving guests the option to keep their linens throughout the course of their stay.
• Recycling receptacles for staff and guest use.

And for these efforts, the hotel has received a designation as a hotel that “Supports Green Practices” - a distinction that some travelers may value when choosing where to stay.

For more information on the Quality Inn and Suites hotel of Jekyll Island, GA, or to book your reservations today, visit choicehotels.com, jekyllislandquality.com, call 800.4CHOICE, or contact the property directly at 912.635.2202.

Tags: Choice Hotel Properties, Choice Hotels, Eco-Friendly Hotels, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Green Hotels, Group Accommodations on jekyll Island, Hotel Suites on Jekyll Island, hotels on Jekyll Island, jekyll island beach, jekyll island golf, jekyll island hotels, Jekyll Island Quality, Jekyll Island vacations, Quality Inn & Suites
Posted in Press Releases | No Comments »

Jekyll Island is proud to announce the winners of the Seventh Annual Turtle Crawl Triathlon. Over 500 athletes participated in the Olympic Distance Triathlon, the Sprint Triathlon or the 5K Fun Run/Walk. A portion of the proceeds raised will go to support the ongoing operation of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island.  For more information about the Turtle Crawl Triathlon visit gamultisports.com. For more information on the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island visit georgiaseaturtlecenter.org

Olympic Distance Triathlon Results

OVERALL MALE RESULTS

1  Samuel Morgan	Atlanta GA
2  Dennis Reardon	Canton GA
3  Daniel C Arnett	Atlanta GA

OVERALL FEMALE RESULTS

1  Jennifer Ashley Walz	Savannah GA
2  Katherine Clark Tindol	Suwanee GA
3  Kimberly Dunker	Athens GA

Sprint Distance Triathlon Results

OVERALL MALE RESULTS

1   Buff Leary	St Simons Isl GA
2   Tony Hammett	Douglasville GA
3   Kalen Smith	Savannah GA

OVERALL FEMALE RESULTS

1    Jamye Specht	St Simons Isl GA
2    Caroline Geiken	St. Simons Isl GA
3    Camille Gilbert	Atlanta GA

5K Fun Run Results

MALE OVERALL WINNER

1   Matthew Garmon	Waycross GA
2   Bryan Holcomb
3   Ben Burkett	Brunswick GA

FEMALE OVERALL WINNER

1  Allisone Espelosin	Atlanta GA
2   Brooke Shivers	Evans GA
3   Macy Flick	Brunswick GA

Jekyll Island Turtle Crawl Triathlon - 5K Run/Walk Winners by Age Group

MALE AGE GROUP:  15 & Under

Coleman Duncan        Forsyth GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  15 & Under

Caitlin Forkin               Peachtree City GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  16 - 19

Tyler Kersten             Blackshear GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  16 - 19

Lacey Avery               Conyers GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24

Nicole Lee                  Hinesville GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29

Jason Palmer             Winder GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29

Katie West                 Saint Augustine FL

MALE AGE GROUP:  30-34

Andrew Robertson      Brunswick GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34

Teresa Lareau

FEMALE AGE GROUP:

Debbie Corey             St. Simons Island GA

FEMALE MASTERS OVERALL RESULTS

Joanna Cook              Brunswick GA

MALE MASTERS OVERALL RESULTS

Auguste Murphy         Brunswick GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44

Joe Barber                 St. Simons Island GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44

Tami Barber              St. Simons Island GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49

James Flick               St Petersburg FL

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49

Valerie Patrick            Marietta GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54

William Vicory            Marietta GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54

Jennifer West              Jacksonville FL

MALE AGE GROUP: 55-59

Jeff West                   Jacksonville FL

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59

Mary Pafford              Brunswick GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64

Rob Mason                 Lakeland FL

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64

Jane Lafferty               Brunswick GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 69

Linda Snavely               Lakeland FL

Jekyll Island Turtle Crawl Triathlon - Sprint Triathlon Winners by Age Group

MALE AGE GROUPS

MALE AGE GROUP:  15 & Under

Tad Ellsworth             Canton GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  16 - 19

Thomas Millican         St Simons Isl GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24

Brent Snodgrass         Atlanta GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29

Grant Byrum               Alpharetta GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34

Christopher Smith      Bonaire GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39

Hugh Adams               Brunswick GA

MALE MASTERS CHAMPION

David Howard              Savannah GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44

Steve White                Pooler GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49

Richard Broxson        St Simons Isl GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54

Wade Patrick           Marietta GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59

Randy Chew             Pelham GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64

Neal Sessions          Watkinsville GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 69

Steve Derrick             Marietta GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 98

Bobby Huggins            St Simons Isl GA

FEMALE AGE GROUPS

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  15 & Under

Alex Deregnacourt     Brunswick GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24

Nicole Jones            Savannah GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29

Emily Puskar            Richmond Hill GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34

Amber Wellman       St. Simons Island

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39

Wendy McLaughlin      Smyrna GA

FEMALE MASTERS CHAMPION

Debra Hopkins            Grovetown GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44

Kim Ruple            Tyrone GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49

Mary Stuart Bland       Atlanta GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59

Kathy Bruce             Atlanta GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64

Judith Garrard          Lawrenceville GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 69

Sharon Blount            Saint Simons Island GA

OTHER

PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED

Brad Wallace Erlandson   Clarkston MI

CLYDESDALE 200 +

Jeff Specht              St Simons Isl GA

ATHENA

Sherilyn Dawn Narker     Decatur GA

Jekyll Island Turtle Crawl Triathlon -Olympic Distance Winners by Age Group

MALE AGE GROUPS

MALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24

Dane A Teszler          Atlanta GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29

Ryan Williams            Savannah GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34

Russ Marshall            Sugar Hill GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39

Pete Doedens             Cumming GA

MALE MASTERS CHAMPION

Nathan Nevid             Lake Park FL

MALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44

Michael Kitchens         Danville GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49

Jeff Plank                   Atlanta GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54

Keith Woodward          Atlanta GA

MALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59

Jeremy Smith              Jacksonville FL

MALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64

Ron Joel Weiss            Oak Island NC

MALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 98

William O. Stubbs, Jr.   Statesboro GA

FEMALE AGE GROUPS

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24

Susie Klonicki               Marietta GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29

Leigh White                 Pooler GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34

Ellen Kohl                   Athens GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39

Nancy Meck                Atlanta GA

FEMALE MASTERS CHAMPION

Elizabeth Jones           Macon GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44

Cherie Blanzola           Beaufort SC

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49

Natalie Taylor             Alpharetta GA

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54

Beverly Ungerer           Lakewood NY

FEMALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59

Sherrie Gibney-            Sherman  Athens GA

OTHER

CLYDESDALE 200 +

Thomas Burrell Harris I   Atlanta GA

ATHENA

Kathryn Honderd          Atlanta GA

Tags: Bike Races in Georgia, GA Sea Turtle Center, Georgia Multisports, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island bike paths, Jekyll Island vacations, road races in Georgia, triathlon, Triathlons in Georgia, Turtle Crawl
Posted in Festivalgoer, Press Releases | No Comments »

Join the Georgia State Patrol, the Brunswick Police Department and Red Bug Motors for a free Safety Fair at the Jekyll Island Airport on May 30 from 11 AM - 2 PM. Kids, teens, and parents can learn important safety tips including bicycle safety, home safety, fire safety, and boating safety. Officers will also be on site to help young teens (13-15) prepare for their drivers license test. A driving course will be available for teens to get practical experience using Red Bug Electric Cars before they get behind the wheel of a real car. In addition, teens can learn the dangers of DUI driving with a DUI driving simulator. Parents can get their child car seats inspected and their children’s fingerprints taken.

Free hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided by the Brunswick Police Department. The event is free and open to the public.

Tags: fire safety, Georgia State Patrol, jekyll island, Jekyll Island Events, jekyll island fire department, Jekyll Island vacations, public safety
Posted in Festivalgoer, Just for Kicks, Just for Kids | No Comments »

A new outdoor exploration opportunity has been added on Jekyll Island. Locally owned and operated, Jekyll Island Fun Tours is now offering guided Segway Personal Transportation (PT) tours of Jekyll Island’s maritime forest. Visitors are able to learn about an important eco-system while enjoying a novel, eco-friendly mode of transportation.

Popular around the globe, the Segway PT is a self-balancing two-wheel device designed to go anywhere in a safe, efficient manner. The first of its kind, the Segway PT runs on batteries and is a zero-emissions form of transportation. Segway technology enables the Segway PT to work seamlessly with the operator’s body movements.

The Jekyll Island tour begins with a safety video and then a hands-on familiarization with a Segway PT. After orientation, riders enter the maritime forest. Jekyll Island’s maritime forest is an environmentally rich home to numerous species of plants and animals. Riders can get an up close view of the plant life from their Segway PT via the natural paths that run through the forest. A trained guide gives descriptions and explanations of species found in order for visitors to understand the ecological importance of the salt marsh and maritime forests.

Tours depart from the Jekyll Island gas station parking lot at 50 Ben Fortson Parkway. They run between 1.5-2 hours including the training time. All tours include training and helmets. Tour participants must be 16 years or older with weight limitations from 100-250 lbs. Call 912-635-9704 for more information and tour departure times.

Tags: biking in Georgia, hotels on Jekyll Island, jekyll island biking, Jekyll Island Club Hotel, Jekyll Island tours, Jekyll Island trips, Jekyll Island vacations, Jekyll Island walks, nature trails, nature trails in Georgia, nature walks, nature walks in Georgia, nature walks in Jekyll, rental cottages on Jekyll Island, segway, segway tours
Posted in Bird Watching, Nature Connection, Two Wheelin' | No Comments »

Celebrate Spring on Jekyll Island with the first annual Jekyll Island Mother Nature Festival on Saturday, April 18, 2009. The festival boasts numerous activities for families to enjoy the outdoors and explore Jekyll Island while being green-conscious.

“Jekyll Island is an environmentally rich vacation destination with numerous amenities that allow our guests to get an up-close, non-invasive look at the eco-systems that make our island unique,” said Beth Burnsed, Event Marketing Coordinator for the Jekyll Island Authority. “The Mother Nature Festival showcases those amenities while educating children and their parents on how to be more eco-friendly.”

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is the main hub of event festivities. From 10 AM - 4 PM, the Center will host an eco-friendly exhibitor area, eco-craft zone, outdoor entertainment and silent auction. In the exhibitor area, environmental organizations, artists, and shops will exhibit their eco-conscious and nature-related wares. Simultaneously, in the children’s eco-craft zone, kids can practice being environmentally friendly by making recycled-art projects while learning about Sea Turtles and their habitat.

Other activities include a Family Fishing Day sponsored by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, an Eco-Book Fair at Jekyll Books, a kite buggy demonstration on the beach, and a herpetology session at Tidelands Nature Center. All of these events are free and open to the public.

For added adventure, families can choose from a variety guided excursions. Tours include Helicopter Rides, Dolphin Tours, Eco-Tours, Off-Shore Fishing, Kayaking, Bird Rambles, Beach Ecology Walks and Horseback Riding. Advanced registration for the above excursions is highly recommended.

As an eco-friendly incentive, the Jekyll Island parking fee will be waived on April 18 for all guests driving a hybrid vehicle to the festival. For more information on all Mother Nature Festival activities and excursions visit www.jekyllisland.com/mothernaturefestival or call 1-877-4JEKYLL. Get regular updates on the festival by being a fan of the Jekyll Island Mother Nature Festival on Facebook.com

Tags: Earth Day at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island Events, jekyll island festivals, jekyll island historic district, jekyll island mother nature festival, Jekyll Island vacations, Mother Nature Festival, outdoor activities on jekyll island, the georgia sea turtle center jekyll island
Posted in Festivalgoer, Press Releases | No Comments »

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center would like to announce their new hours for Spring 2009 through Winter 2010.

April 09-Nov 09:
Monday 10am-2pm
Tues-Sun 9am-5pm

Dec 09-Feb 10
Monday CLOSED
Tues-Sun 9am-5pm

Holidays:
Thanksgiving Day: 10am-2pm
Christmas Eve Day: CLOSED
Christmas Day: CLOSED
New Year’s Day: CLOSED

Tags: Georgia Museums, jekyll island sea turtles, Jekyll Island vacations, The Georgia Sea Turtle Center, The Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island
Posted in Press Releases | No Comments »

Since the inception of the Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits: Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival in 2006, Joe Barnett, Jr. has participated and won in every Shrimp & Grits Cooking Competition. His winning streak and jovial personality caught the attention of Food Network. On March 18 at 9:00 PM the amateur chef will go up against world-renowned chef Bobby Flay on Food Network’s “Throwdown with Bobby Flay”.

Taped in Joe Barnett’s hometown of Washington, GA, the show features Joe Barnett cooking his version of shrimp & grits against Bobby Flay’s version. Both chefs use locally caught wild Georgia shrimp provided by the Georgia Shrimp Association, a partner in the Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits annual festival. Their dishes are judged by local fans and shrimp & grits connoisseurs. The one-on-one competition was a complete surprise to Barnett. In each “Throwdown” episode, the amateur cook thinks Food Network is shooting their profile for a show. What they don’t know is that Food Network star Bobby Flay is going to drop in for a surprise visit and challenge them to an unexpected cook-off.

“I was shocked when Bobby Flay walked onto the set,” said Barnett. “Of course, I’m always up for a cook-off and was proud to represent the Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival and the Georgia Shrimp Association.”

The annual Shrimp & Grits: Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival is held each year on Jekyll Island in September. This year’s event is scheduled for September 18-20 and will include cooking competitions, celebrity book signing, cooking demonstrations, shrimp boat tours and excursions and much more. More details can be found at jekyllisland.com and the festival Facebook fan page.

Tags: Georgia Shrimp Association, Jekyll Island Events, jekyll island revitalization, Jekyll Island vacations, Shrimp & Grits Festival, shrimp and grits festival, shrimp festival, The wild georgia shrimp festival
Posted in Festivalgoer, Press Releases | No Comments »

The Jekyll Island Authority today announced its selection for Planning, Architectural and Engineering Services for the Jekyll Island Convention Center, Beachfront Park and Entry Corridor Revitalization areas. The selection is a conclusion of Request for Qualified Contractor #253 and was approved by the Jekyll Island Authority Board on Monday.

The Jekyll Island Authority is pleased to select HHCP Architecture, Inc. as the winning firm. HHCP will contract and report to the Jekyll Island Authority and together with HHCP’s project team work with the JIA along with revitalization partner Linger Longer Communities to fulfill the vision for the new beach village.

“We had 33 responses to the RFQC, so the review team had a great amount of work to complete in a short amount of time,” stated Jones Hooks, Executive Director of the Jekyll Island Authority. “There were many great firms, but HHCP really impressed us, bringing a higher level of excitement and a deeper understanding of the importance and potential the beach village project has.”

HHCP Architecture, Inc. will be the primary partner and handle architecture, programming, budget & scheduling and LEED qualification. Among HHCP’s project team, site consultants will be Thomas & Hutton Engineering Co. of Brunswick, GA who will handle civil engineering and surveying. Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin of Atlanta will handle transportation planning, site planning, landscape architecture, environmental and graphics & wayfinding. Building consultants will be structural engineers Stanley D. Lindsey and Associates of Atlanta, mechanical engineers TLC Engineering for Architecture from Orlando and interior designer TJNG Partners also of Orlando. HHCP Architecture, Inc. is licensed and registered in Georgia with its main headquarters in Maitland, Florida.

“The new Jekyll Island Convention Center and Beach Village has the potential to create a strong sense of place and give visitors an enjoyable, rich and unique experience that will make them want to visit again,” stated Alan Helman, senior partner with HHCP Architecture, Inc. “We are obviously pleased with the selection and are confident in our team’s ability to meet the goals and exceed expectations.”

Helman Hurley Charvat Peacock/Architects, Inc. (HHCP) was founded in 1975 and has grown to become one of the southeast’s most experienced and respected architectural firms. With a staff of 67 professionals and support staff, HHCP has project experience all over the world, most in the hospitality industry. Much of the domestic experience is in Florida, Georgia and Puerto Rico and includes the Orange County Convention Center and University of Central Florida’s College of Hospitality in Orlando. HHCP’s work on the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort was recognized as the 2007 Project of the Year by Associated Builders and Contractors.

The Jekyll Island Beach Village project is one of several redevelopment projects which will bring about the revitalization of Jekyll Island. Along with a new convention center and beachfront park, partner Linger Longer Communities will construct two adjacent hotels, a retail shopping village with public plaza and a new vacation ownership lodging project. The entry corridor to Jekyll Island will be re-worked to unify the site and place the beach village adjacent and overlooking the beach and ocean. The total project is expected to cost $165+ million.

Even during revitalization, Jekyll Island offers guests a wonderful beach escape with hotels, rental cottages and campground all operating. All restaurants, tennis facilities, bike paths, Summer Waves Water Park, Historic Landmark District and golf courses are open for business; and miles of uncrowded beach are unaffected by revitalization project work. For more information about Jekyll island revitalization, visit www.jekyllisland.com. For more information on HHCP Architecture, Inc., please visit www.hhcp.com.

Tags: georgia beaches, georgia vacations, jekyll island authority, jekyll island authority board, jekyll island convention center, jekyll island meetings, jekyll island redevelopment, Jekyll island revitaliz, Jekyll Island vacations
Posted in Press Releases | No Comments »

Visit www.jekyllisland.com/shrimpandgrits and view the website for the 2009 Shrimp & Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival.  We are excited to have the Georgia Shrimp Association as our title sponsor again this year. All applications for the cooking competitions and vendor exhibition areas are available. Schedules, maps, other details will be posted soon. Keep checking back. Also, become a friend of the festival by visiting our Facebook page. Search for Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits on Facebook.com. We will update the Facebook page daily with new information, links to recipes, and other great news about our favorite dish!

Tags: Georgia Shrimp Association, jekyll island beach, Jekyll Island boating excurssions, Jekyll Island Club Hotel, Jekyll Island Events, jekyll island festivals, Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits, Jekyll Island vacations, Shrimp & Grits
Posted in Festivalgoer | No Comments »