Beginning New Year’s Day and continuing through the months of January and February the Jekyll Island Authority hosts “Island Treasures on Jekyll Island,” a unique treasure hunting experience on Jekyll Island.
The treasures are handcrafted glass floats called Island Treasures. The glass floats have been sought after by Jekyll Island guests since 2002. Each is a unique design and is stamped with the year of the hunt on its base.
Island Treasures mimic glass floats once used on the nets of fishermen in the early 1900’s. The floats would sometimes break loose and wash ashore for lucky beachcombers to find and keep.
Collecting these glass floats became a hobby in the 1950’s when the commercial fishing industry began using plastic and Styrofoam floats, making glass fishing floats rare, highly sought after and valuable Island Treasures.
During these first two winter months, the Jekyll Island Authority recreates this treasure hunting experience for their visitors. Volunteers hide the Island Treasures in various locations on Jekyll Island for lucky guests to find.
The glass floats are the work of commissioned artists from across the country. This eclectic group of talented artists uses the same techniques that have been used for 2000 years to create glass art pieces.
Lucky treasure hunters can register their Island Treasure at the Jekyll Island Guest Information Center to receive a biography of the artist and a certificate of authenticity.
The Center is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m and Sunday 10am till 5pm.. For those not able to find a treasure on their hunt, they can continue their search online at JekyllIsland.com. Island Treasure icons are placed at random on various pages on JekyllIsland.com during January and February.
People who find and click on the icon will be eligible to receive a complimentary 2013 Island Treasure. The Jekyll Island Guest Information Center also has an array of beautiful Island Treasures for purchase in-store.
