Insider Blog

by Guerry Norwood Massengale is a popular and busy public park, where the smells of grilled hamburgers and hot-dogs mix with the happy shouts of playing children. Because of its extensive use, it has the worn look of a public park. Nevertheless, it provides access to the southern end of East Beach, and visitors who head north from here will experience the best beach the island has to offer. The sand...

by Guerry Norwood St. Simons Island’s beaches are limited to the southern end of the island in a band stretching 4 miles from Gould’s Inlet on the eastern side to King Creek on the southwestern side. The beaches have experienced tremendous changes since the beginning of the island’s recorded history, and continue to erode and accrete as a response to the effects of wind, waves, tides, and storms. Taylor Schoettle’s...

This small park provides a panorama of the eastern marshes of St. Simons Island, while it informs the visitor of the Battle of Bloody Marsh. Though it was a relatively small engagement, the outcome had a tremendous influence on the future course of Georgia. An exhibit explains the engagement and a plaque honors Oglethorpe’s resolve to keep the Georgia territory in the hands of the British empire. Geologically, the high...

by Guerry Norwood One-half mile south of Clam Creek Road on the eastern side of North Riverview Drive are the remains of the Horton House. The two-story tabby structure, one of the oldest in the state, was built in 1742 after Horton’s original structure was destroyed by retreating Spanish, who had just been defeated by Oglethorpe in the Battle of Bloody Marsh. An exceptionally large red bay occupies the northwest corner...

By Andrea Marroquin, Jekyll Island Programming Coordinator A night-time excursion of Jekyll Island ventures inside Dubignon Cottage for spine-tingling tales! Sheila Zynda, of Darien, GA, took Jekyll Island’s Folklore, Rumor & Myth tour last October and was enthusiastic.  “I think Jekyll Island is a fantastic place to come for ghost hunting,” she said.  “Besides the history, you might get to see something that you’re not expecting. “ Island visitors and...

by Guerry Norwood A small park located at 15th Street and Bruce Drive provides a great view of the best birding spot on the island, recognized by its selection to the Colonial Coast Birding Trail. This inlet separates East Beach, a Holocene fragment of St. Simons south of the inlet, from Sea Island to the north. The bar and inlet are good examples of Georgia’s barrier island-estuarine interface. The inlet and...

by Guerry Norwood The Glynn County Parks & Recreation Department opened a new recreational facility on Saturday, May 23, 2009 the Neptune Park Fun Zone will open for the first time to residents and visitors. The Fun Zone is a multifaceted complex that includes a pool with splash feature, putt‐putt golf course and landside playground. The new facility also includes a bath house and concession stand. The Fun Zone is located...

by Guerry Norwood The Village area of St. Simons, located at the southern end of the island at Mallery Street and Ocean Boulevard, is the best place to start your visit of the island. From here, one can visit the historic lighthouse, fish or crab off the pier, hold a picnic, start a bike tour of the island, walk the beach, browse one of the village shops, or eat in one...

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center officially opened June 2007 in Jekyll Island, Ga.’s National Historic Landmark District on the site of the original 1903 Power Plant building, much of which has been preserved and incorporated into the new facilities.  The ambitious, $3 million center – offering an outstanding museum-style learning experience and a state-of-the-art rehabilitation center and veterinary clinic, is the first of its kind in Georgia and is the...

by Guery Norwood Neptune Park, located between the village and lighthouse, is St. Simons’s most popular park, where visitors can picnic, take a trolley tour of the island, fish off the pier, stroll on the pathway, or relax on a bench. Here visitors may listen to the cackling of iridescent boat-tailed grackles in the live oak canopies, or the screech of begging seagulls, or the noble silence of brown pelicans...

by Guerry Norwood In exploring St. Simons Island, it’s possible, when looking closely at certain of the majestic oak trees that cover the island, to find one actually looking back at you. There, peering out from the trunk, from between two huge branches, or from the stub of a long-vanished branch, you may see the unmistakable image of a weathered face. These are the Tree Spirits of St. Simons Island-lovingly carved...

Santa Claus will make a grand entrance, by sea, at the Village Pier this weekend. Bring the children Saturday, December 12th at 12:30 pm. to see Mr. Claus arrive by boat – escorted by Sea Tow! Following his arrival, Mr. Claus will remain at the pier in the playground area for photos and last minute Christmas requests. In the event you are unable to attend Saturday’s festivities, don’t worry, Santa...