Jekyll Island is a place where nature and humanity peacefully co-exist. The most accessible of Georgia’s protected barrier islands, the majority of Jekyll remains in a natural state, and development is tightly limited to preserve the balance. The island is home to more than a thousand acres of mature maritime forest, an icon of the coastal South that has become threatened by over development throughout its range.
From the moment you see the vast marshes that line our causeway, you’ll know you’ve arrived in a place blessed with natural beauty. The terrapin-crossing signs along the way tell you this is a place where people truly cherish our natural resources and are working hard to protect wildlife.
In 2011, the Jekyll Island Authority established a thoroughly vetted Conservation Program with the mission of preserving and enhancing the island’s natural bounty, while providing nature-based educational and recreational opportunities.
Conservation remains a central pillar of our mission—from protecting nesting loggerhead turtles and dune systems to preserving the integrity of the tidal marshes and everything in between. Over the last decade, we’ve enhanced the visitor experience in order to sustain Jekyll Island’s economic viability; yet, all revitalization has occurred within existing, developed land, without reducing the island’s protected undeveloped land by a single acre.
Whether through Ranger Walks or educational trips to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, guests can celebrate our island’s natural history, and natural future, by learning from it – and by seeking harmony with it – because we believe the more you connect with this land, the brighter its future will be for nature and for those who come here to enjoy it.
