Tree Spirits on St. Simons Island
If you’ve vacationed on St. Simons Island, then you’ve most likely seen a tree spirit. These works of art carved into oaks trees spanning across the island are magnificently unique! Artist Keith Jennings wanted a way to remember the lives of those lost at sea aboard ships made from St. Simons Island oak. He fell into this creative outlet when per Jennings “I had a little too much time on my hands and not enough money”. He credits his work to the trees though, they inspire him and carving these beautiful oak trees allows the tree’s spirit to shine through.
There are about 20 tree spirits on St. Simons Island only 7 of which are located on public property. There rest were carved into trees that belong on private residence. Enjoy strolling the island on foot or bike and make sure to keep your eyes peeled for these wonderful works of art! Listed below are the addresses to the Tree Spirits that are on public property.
- Golden Isles Welcome Center
- Mallery Park- Baseball Field 529 Beach View Dr. St. Simons 422 Park Avenue Main parking lot- West side of building Large tree in Parking lot entrance to Park
- Mallery Park- Basketball Court
- Magnolia Manor Retirement Home 515 Park Avenue 120 Heritage Dr. Right behind the Basketball Goal- East 1st right and then 1st tree on the right
- Red Fern Village
- Anderson Fine Art Gallery and Delaney’s 310 Redfern Village 3305 Frederica Rd Across the street from Gnats Landing- look up The large tree directly in of Art Gallery
- Gascoigne Bluff Park 1000 Arthur J Moore Drive Along the dirt rd. closest to the River by the picnic area.
4 Day Trips Near St. Simons Island that can’t be missed!
Jekyll Island, only about 20 miles away from St. Simons Island but seems like worlds away because you have to cross over the Sidney Lanier Bridge which separates St. Simons and Jekyll Island. Jekyll Island is well known for their rich aristocratic history as well as for the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, and many other neat places.
Brunswick, if you are looking to browse throu
gh a quaint downtown area or maybe you like more commercialized shopping, Brunswick is the place to go. The quiet downtown area is small but packed with antique stores, city markets, and festivals as well as great theaters. Also in Brunswick there is big box stores like Target and Old Navy as well as many chain restaurants to choose from. Also about 20 minutes away from the island makes Brunswick the perfect afternoon trip.
Cumberland Island is a little ways from St. Simons at about an hour away, but it is totally worth it! Once you get to Cumber Island National Seashore you will board the ferry that well take you across the bay to the secluded Cumberland Island. Known for its wildlife it boasts many different species like wild horses, turkeys, alligators, armadillos, and many coastal birds. There are also palmetto forests and beautiful live oak.
Sapelo Island which is a stone’s throw away from St. Simons, however it is only accessible by ferry that departs from Darien, Ga. This barrier island is rich with history and with beauty. Once you make it to the island you are free to meander through the various historic points or you can take in the miles of pristine coastline!
St. Simons Island has so much to offer that we know it may be hard to find the time and desire to slip away for the afternoon. If you do find time to explore outside of the island these options, we be sure not to disappoint!
This week Hodnett Cooper travels to Orlando, FL for the much anticipated Curaytor Excellence Conference. Curaytor was founded by two guys who know the Real Estate industry 
well and felt like they had many great ideas to offer others in the business. Curaytor Co-Founders, Chris Smith and Jimmy Mackin specialize in all things digital media. From web sites, to lead generation, to online and mobile advertising. Clients all over the United States boast of their increased sales, brand awareness, and customer retention with the help of Curaytor. We are excited to learn from some of the best in the industry this week! They have set up an awesome line up of guest speakers from Curaytor employees to CEOs of successful Real Estate companies. We are confident we will come back flooded with great ideas and will have heard so many great success stories from other companies like ours. As well as learning opportunities about what others have tried that didn’t work so well. We can’t wait to get back to St. Simons and share all the exciting things we learned. Although, it’ll be hard to leave the happiest place on earth.. Disney World!!
This weekend on St. Simons…
Saturday September 24, 2016
Southern Grown Farmers Market
10:00am – 2:00pm
Support southern vendors at the Southern Grown Farmers Market. Enjoy live music, fresh produce, samples, and southern products at this family-friendly event. This event is open to the public and held at The Market at Sea Island, 351 Sea Island Road, St. Simons Island, GA.
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
This weekend visit Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge for FREE.
Considered the headwaters of the Suwannee and St Marys Rivers. Various threatened and endangered species call this refuge their home, such as red-cockaded woodpecker, wood storks, indigo snakes, and a wide variety of other wildlife species. It is known worldwide for its amphibian populations that are bio-indicators of global health. More than 600 plant species have been identified on refuge lands. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has 353,981 acres of National Wilderness Area within the refuge boundaries.
Touch-a-Truck presented by American Cancer Society Victory Board
Time: 10 am – 2 pm
Location: Brunswick Exchange Club Fairgrounds
Description: Kids and adults alike will have the opportunity to get close to the trucks and machines they have admired from afar. Including police cars fire trucks, garbage trucks, front end loader, dump trucks, ambulances, tow trucks, tractors and more!
Sunday September 25, 2016
Taste of the Vine fundraising event for the Coastal Coalition for Children
Happening Sunday, September 25th, 2016 from 6:30-9:00pm for the 11th Anniversary of the Taste of the Vine fundraising event for the Coastal Coalition for Children, Inc. (CC4C). Not only will the event have wonderful food provided by The Georgia Sea Grill will be providing heavy hors d’ oeuvres, wine tasting, desserts as well as evening music at the Grill’s new location, 310 Mallery Street, in the heart of St. Simons Island village. There will also be a Silent Auction and 50/50 Raffle.
Location: The Georgia Sea Grill, 310 Mallery St, Saint Simons Island, Georgia
Cost: $65 per person (two for $120) in advance, $75 at the door.
When reflecting on the lives lost of all those who served our country we often think of the red poppy flower but some may not know the history behind it. Moina Michael, a notable professor in her time had a passion for remembering those who died in service. In response to a popular poem at the time “In Flander’s Fields” which spoke about the red poppy flowers which grew near the battlefields where fighting took place, Moina Michael vowed to always wear a remembrance poppy. She wanted the red poppy to become a national symbol of remembrance and made it her mission to see this through. She decided she would begin to sell her silk poppy lapel pin to raise money for the rehabilitation of war veterans. By the time of her death Moina Micahel raised over $200 million and was honored by the American Legion at the highest award.
On St. Simons Island we are honoring the lives lost with the Rotary Club of St Simons’ 26th Annual Taps at Twilight. The event will take place Monday, May 30th at 6:45 pm at the Neptune Park Bandstand. We will be honoring those who haven fallen in service of our country as well as those who are serving bravely today. General James Livingston, a Georgia native who was awarded the United States’ highest military decoration – the Congressional Medal of Honor – for his heroic actions in 1968 during the Vietnam War, will deliver the Memorial Day address. During this remembrance ceremony you will experience pageantry of flags, patriotic music, posting and retiring of the colors, and “Taps” played by dueling trumpets. The Rotary Club of St. Simons is extended this event to everyone free of charge as a gift to the community. All you need to bring is your chair!
Hodnett Cooper would like to thank all the men and women who have laid down their life for our country and its people. Our simple appreciation will never be enough to compensate for the lives lost and the families left behind. We are forever grateful to thee! We hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend.
Lights! Camera! Action!
Hodnett Cooper Real Estate Inc, has teamed up with ESPN Coastal to bring you a new online segment, the “Hodnett Cooper Featured Listing of the Month”. To qualify as a feature listing we showcase our most unique homes, exclusive listings, deep water access, oceanfront, and custom built homes.
An experienced Hodnett Cooper Real Estate Agent showcases the selected property. This is a great opportunity to get a virtual tour of the home, instead of only relying on pictures.
Check out our latest episodes below.
Hodnett Cooper is excited to introduce Melissa Johnson, one of the newest Realtors to join the Hodnett Cooper Team.
Melissa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Valdosta State University.
Before coming to Hodnett Cooper, Melissa and her husband began a construction company in 2005, Johnson Partners Inc. With his background in Civil Engineering and her background in Marketing, they focused on high end residential and commercial building. When the real estate market struggled, they geared their company toward their industrial building roots. Going back to residential building, the team changed the company name to REH Building Solutions. Melissa felt this would be a perfect time to transition to her career in real estate. Melissa started with Hodnett Cooper Real Estate as an office administrator while completing real estate courses at night.
Melissa truly enjoys working with people and is eager to build a strong client base through honesty and knowledge. A knowledge that comes from 10 years in the construction industry. Melissa’s goal is to help others find true happiness in their residence. The process of buying or selling a home should be as stress free as possible and she will diligently work to make sure her clients receive a pleasant experience.
Melissa enjoys hanging out with her husband Jamie and their 3 children. They love riding bikes, swimming, playing with their two golden retrievers, Hollywood & Rigger, and traveling. Melissa feels truly blessed to be able to call St. Simons Island her hometown and loves that there are so many outdoor adventures available to experience.
Melissa is located in our mainland office, visit her today!
Hodnett Cooper is thrilled to announce that Realtor Jean Lyons has joined the Hodnett Cooper team.
Jean is originally from California but has lived in the Southeast since 1986. She previously resided in Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, North Carolina. Since 2014 Jean has proudly called the Golden Isles her home.
For 25 years Jean worked as a cosmetologist building and maintaining strong relationships with her clientele – an asset greatly desired in the real estate industry. Jean also brings her previous mortgage experience to Hodnett Cooper. Advising agents and attorneys, as well as approving closing documents for over 2 years, she can help council her clients to avoid common pitfalls that can delay the short sale process. Jean has an extensive knowledge of investor and servicer terminology to aide buyers and sellers navigate through any situation.
Starting her career in North and South Carolina, Jean has been a licensed realtor since 2009. With her passion for helping others, whether you are buying or selling, she will negotiate for your best interest and keep her clients’ needs first.
When she’s not working Jean enjoys exercising and has recently taken up golf. She loves cooking and spending time with her family.
Located at our mainland office, Jean is ready to help you in your next real estate transaction.
photo by Guerry Norwood
A community tradition for 25 years, the churches of St. Simons Island host a sunrise service at the St. Simons Island pier on Easter Sunday. This year’s service begins at 6:30 am on Easter Sunday, April 5. All are welcome.
This year, Rev. Alan Dyer, St. Simons Presbyterian Church will officiate.
The St. Simons Island pier is located at the southern tip of the Island at the end of Mallery Street. (Click here for Google Map)
Join residents and visitors in this annual community event.