Jekyll Island Club Resort is full of activity, but it doesn’t lose its slow pace or its appreciation for the details.
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A stay offers a peek into life in Georgia’s Golden Isles, along with America’s history of corporate greed. That’s quite the mash-up—but if you like nature and history, you’ll have plenty to sink your teeth into. (And not just on your first trip.)
Here’s what I thought about my time at the Jekyll Island Club Resort on Jekyll Island, Georgia. I had the chance to stay in late April of this year on an invitation from the resort. All opinions are my own.
Jekyll Island Club Resort: the island and the club
Here’s one of the first things you’ll notice about Jekyll Island Club Resort: the grounds aren’t neatly defined. That’s because the whole of Jekyll Island is a Georgia State Park that is managed by the Jekyll Island Authority.
When the island was turned into a state park back in 1950, the decision was made to maintain at least 65% of its natural corridors.
When you arrive at Jekyll Island Club Resort, you drive beneath live oak trees and their drooping Spanish moss. You pull up to the concierge to check in, then are given a map that will guide you to parking and your room.
As you start to explore the grounds, you’ll notice that there’s no clear boundary defining the resort club from the rest of the island.
It made me feel like the whole island was my oyster—and Jekyll Island Resort Club was my landing pad. The island’s small size (1.5 miles wide and around eight miles long) also bodes well for that cozy feeling.
From the main clubhouse, I could easily walk to hotspots like the Mosaic Jekyll Island Museum, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, and cottages. There’s also a bike rental that makes it easy to zip around the island, including the Beach Village and the Jekyll Island Club Resort’s Atlantic-facing property, the Ocean Club.
The Ocean Club is located in Jekyll Island’s mini ‘downtown’ area. By downtown, I mean there’s a cluster of shops and restaurants nearby, some of the new hotels. That includes the Ocean Club, a modern opening that differs from the Jekyll Island Resort Club. In lieu of history and Old World Charm, you’ll find larger suites with ocean-facing terraces and a large pool.
Jekyll Island Club Resort: the atmosphere
Counting amenities has never been a priority for me. I’m squarely in the quality over quantity camp when it comes to hotel features. That being said, Jekyll Island Resort Club has both character as a Historic Hotel of America and a notable list of amenities and activities.
I enjoyed the quiet, homely ambiance. There are wide porches with rocking chairs and fans where I spent time reading, enjoying a wine, and soaking up those live oak beauties. Peace is hard to come by as someone who lives in a city center. Jekyll Island Club Resort delivered that quiet calm in spades.
The club also impressed me with its programming. You can easily book a tour of the cottages that dot the grounds—which are more like mansions. (There’s also a gorgeous stave-style church that you can pop into during the day.) Jekyll Island makes it easy to learn about the island’s unique history, and its top museums and centers are walkable from the resort.
I already mentioned two of those locations: the Mosaic Museum and Sea Turtle Center. The latter offers the aforementioned cottage tours, meaning anyone on the island can take them, not only resort-goers.
Additionally, if you’re interested in croquet, you can take a croquet lesson on the front lawn. If you’re interested in the art of sabering, on the other hand, there’s a weekly Friday champagne sabering lesson on the veranda overlooking the pool.
The programming matches the atmosphere, in other words. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a Gilded Age world… one that comes with air conditioning.
Jekyll Island Club Resort: the wow factors
Here’s what sticks out most from my trip to Jekyll Island and my stay at Jekyll Island Resort Club.
- The special programs: Like I mentioned in the section above, Jekyll Island Resort Club goes to great pains to curate a mood. Their social programs are designed to maximize the experience of the historic stay. If you’re there on a Friday, don’t skip out on the champagne sabering! I’ve been to multiple saberings in the past, but this was the first where guests could try their hand at the art.
- The nature: I’m big on nature because natural settings make it easier for me to feel at peace. The live oaks dotting the property blew my mind. Many are hundreds of years old. It adds to an ambiance that’s hard to find because it can’t be manmade—only nature can create them. Aside from live oaks, I also loved the magnolias.
- The restaurants: The Wharf is located near Jekyll Island Resort Club in the marsh, while the Ocean Club has its own seafood-focused restaurant, Eighty Ocean Kitchen and Bar. They’re a killer combo for those visiting, and showcase two sides of the island: the marsh and the beach.
- The dual marsh-beach combo: Speaking of the marsh and the beach, Jekyll Island Resort Club’s setting was hard to beat. Obviously, Jekyll Island is a treat for nature-lovers—but those who stay at the clubhouse are in for a treat. You can enjoy those harder-to-find marsh views at your leisure, then head to the beach when the sand calls. If you’re from the Lowcountry, that probably doesn’t sound very cool—but most of us aren’t from the Lowcountry, making it a pretty wild and unique experience.
- The walkability: There’s not much to say here except that if you can stand the heat and enjoy a stroll, you’ll have miles of winding paths to enjoy on Jekyll Island. Many of them are accessible straight from the resort grounds.
Things to keep in mind before booking your stay
I’m sure you can tell: I’m a prime candidate to return to Jekyll Island Resort Club. I’ve already spread the word to my traveler friends, too.
That being said, not all travelers have the same interests as I do. Here are some things to keep in mind before you book a stay:
- The resort frequently hosts weddings and events. Some of the cottages can be booked out for weddings and events, along with parts of the grounds. There were two weddings in town during my short stay. The wedding gatherings didn’t bother me, but I know some travelers prefer to avoid large gatherings on vacation.
- You can get a little turned around, so walk the whole resort first. I love to wander when I travel, but it took me a little time to get the lay of the land, so to speak. I recommend doing a lap around Jekyll Island Resort Club after you get settled in your room. You should be given a map at reception that makes it easy to get around.
- It’ll get busy on weekends. There’s one way onto Jekyll Island and one way off. During the weekends, the island gets pretty busy—Jekyll Island Club Resort included. If possible, I recommend booking a stay starting on Thursday. You can leave easily on Sunday, but you might be waiting to get onto the island on Friday.
