The Strange Case of Jekyll Island, Georgia (Part 1)

By Robin

There is a lot to love about Jekyll Island…but it had darker side that lent comparisons to Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Leading off with the Jekyll Side of Jekyll…tomorrow’s Part 2 will explain the Hyde.

Jekyll is another of the gorgeous, romantic barrier islands that run from Florida northward along the Atlantic Coast. Like Cumberland, it was an early 20th century playground for the tycoons: the Astors, Rockefellers, Pulitzers, Morgans and others created a private winter hunting retreat here. Somewhere down the line, it’s stewardship was turned over to the state of Georgia. There is a fee to enter the island, but then it offers up miles of white sand beaches, golf course, a Sea Turtle Center, a large soccer complex, and a 14-mile flat bike/running path that courses the perimeter of the island. The island has low profile development and very low-key commercial areas. 

The Jekyll Island Campground lies at the northern end of the island where we stayed for a week. If I was rolling in the dough, I’d stay at the Jekyll Island Club (the restored hunting club for the ultra wealthy) and sip mint juleps on the veranda. We had to settle for fancy coffee at the Club cafe called The Pantry. In Robin Hood fashion, we snatched a few sugar packets from the table to hand out to hypoglycemic forest dwellers.

Running and biking on the island are a real treat. We both had some great workouts…and we were out early enough that there were hardly any other souls out but us and the seabirds! We also had some great meals and enjoyed the the local Wild Georgia Shrimp as often as we could. 

Our favorite meal, though, was the one we shared with another of our oldest friends: Michael Desrosiers and his family. Michael was part of our original running gang in Charleston, South Carolina when I met Ross. He even made it to Louisiana for our wedding 26 years ago…and I don’t know if we’d seen him much after that. He’s married to the wonderful Megan who created and leads One Hundred Miles, a nonprofit Georgia coastal conservation and education organization. Their two young sons are budding track stars (gifted genes from both parents there!). We had a blast meeting them, catching up and reminiscing from all the years we’ve missed. I was extremely impressed that Michael remembered the first song from our wedding reception…the Wayne Toups version of Tupelo Honey.

As Roy Benson said at our dinner a few weeks ago…the most important things in the world are our families and our friends. We are so pleased to have this winter trip to enjoy time with both!

Oregon tycoon visits Jekyll Island Club.

Bike path.

Marsh Sunrise.

Judices + Desrosiers = Fun Time!