By Tim Cotroneo
A guest discovers an unspoken feeling of comfort when arriving at Jekyll Island Club Resort. As you turn left on Riverview Drive, wind your way past the giant mossy Southern Oak Trees, and set your eyes on the resort entrance, that’s when the feeling begins.
Those who have researched the resort prior to pulling up to the front entry tower know that this stately resort opened in 1888. That begs the question, “What is this retreat doing so well to have thrived for nearly 150 years?”
The key element to this Jekyll Island Club Resort success story is the cozy feeling that accompanies a guest over the course of their stay. Is this a feeling of gratitude and well-being? Or is there an awareness that generations before you found hospitality and wonder in what this time-honored resort has to offer?
Every Resort Has a Story
While walking to your accommodations you see photos, memorabilia, and signage that share a glimpse of what took place in this very spot decades, or even a century, ago. It’s here that you recognize some of the names and landmarks connected to Jekyll Island Club.
Business icons Rockefeller, Morgan, Goodyear, and Pulitzer all vacationed or had second homes at Jekyll Island during the late 1800s to the early 1940s. The buzz created by these affluent names made the resort a warm weather magnet for America’s ultra wealthy.
In those early days, this seven-mile-long island was a haven for seaside relaxation, hunting, fishing, golf, tennis, and horseback riding. What’s wonderful is that these same diversions continue to prosper on the island today.
The Pace of the Place
Once you’ve settled in at the resort, a second feeling begins to take over. What you realize is that your pace has slowed down. You notice fellow guests enjoying a leisurely breakfast, riding a bike on the 20 miles of paved paths, or playing croquet on the front courtyard. Suddenly, the chaos of back home disappears. Jekyll Island is a destination where calm is the new norm.
The island is home to seven beaches, including Driftwood Beach, which is annually ranked as one of America’s Top 5 Beaches. Lunchtime picnics, landscape painting, and observing dolphins swimming in the Atlantic become priorities rather than just guilty pleasures. Movie directors, artists, and seashell seekers love the sense of place found at these scenic settings.
Your free time may also be devoted to discovering the rich history of the island and the nature which surrounds the resort. Hotel Historic District Tours are weekly occurrences. Guests can arrange for a horse drawn carriage tour or take a ride in the 1948 Buick 8 that is featured in the Humphrey Bogart movie Maltese Falcon. Nature enthusiasts will love visiting The Georgia Sea Turtle Center located on the resort property.
Dining is Grand
Vacationers have to eat. The historic Grand Dining Room is southern fine dining at its best. Know that you’re in good company while dining at a table once occupied by the Vanderbilts.
Walk across the street and enjoy an open-air meal at The Wharf. This setting offers an elevated ocean lookout on the pier. The Wharf is also a great venue to enjoy live music while experiencing a Jekyll Island sunset.
Guests at the Jekyll Island Club will want to be sure and visit the nearby Jekyll Ocean Club. This oceanfront boutique hotel features the Eighty Ocean Kitchen and Bar. Dig into delicious seafood, salads, flatbreads, and amazing ocean views. From November through March, Jekyll Island Resort or Ocean Club guests can also take advantage of a Free Golf Package.
A Timeless Getaway
A vacation at the Jekyll Island Club Resort is more than an escape from your life back home. When you consider the people who’ve stayed at the resort before you, it’s like you’re a part of history.
Your motivation for staying at 371 Riverview Drive may be romance, an anniversary, a reunion, or simple curiosity after reading all the testimonials. A Jekyll Island stay allows you to write your own chapter at a resort with a unique story.
Where else in the world can you find this amazing mix of historic charm, beachside beauty, and timeless southern hospitality? After saying goodbye to the resort team members, it’s time to drive down the winding road to catch a flight back home. On your return flight you’ll be carrying something you didn’t have before. As you go through TSA at the airport, you wonder if you need to declare feelings of gratitude and wonder. Jekyll Island Club Resort: Oh, what a feeling!
https://www.jekyllclub.com/jekyll-island-club/
