Category: For the Record

A story of Larry and Jann Bennett as shared by Rob and Jody (Bennett) Reichel

Rob and Jody Reichel first learned about Jekyll Island Foundation through JIF Executive Director Dion Davis, a close friend of Jody’s parents—Larry and Jann Bennett. Longtime residents of Hilton Head Island, Rob and Jody have four children and four (soon to be five) grandchildren. Recently, Jody told their story to Dion.

Family vacations on Jekyll Island

“My father grew up vacationing on Jekyll Island, and therefore it became our favorite place to go! We would come from Jesup annually to attend Easter egg hunts, and at various times throughout the year for family vacations—to ride bikes, play putt-putt, and enjoy the beaches.”

In fact, in the 60s my parents had architectural plans drawn up to build a house on Jekyll. My daddy always regretted not building that house.

Jekyll Island has been a part of my life since I was a little girl. Our family loves the Island, with its wide bike paths, great beaches, historic Jekyll Club Resort, putt-putt golf, tennis, golf courses, and dining. Our oldest son was married at the Jekyll Club Hotel.

Tribute gift and bench dedication

We rode bikes so often as kids and as adults in the historic district and always wanted a place in my parents’ memory to stop and reflect. When my parents were still alive, they loved the idea of a bench in their honor. 

After Mom passed away a few years ago and Daddy this past February, my husband donated the bench as a Mother’s Day gift, just in time to celebrate Daddy’s birthday on July 2nd—his 92nd—and my 63rd birthday on July 4th. We’ve spent our whole lives celebrating birthdays together. 

My father’s favorite scripture, which he quoted every morning, was ‘This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it’ (Psalm 118:24). That’s what we put on the plaque so our family would never forget to rejoice and be glad in every day the Lord gives.” 

The work of JIF

Rob and Jody believe the work of the Foundation is significant because of the long-term investment for the betterment of Jekyll Island. 

When asked what natural area or historic spot on the island is most attractive to them, they shared, “The refurbishment of the historic cottages. It keeps alive a bygone era for generations to come.”

by John Bennett, JIA Marketing Communications Manager

How do you make the ‘Best Festival in the Southeast’ even better? With a bit of imagination. And a lot of grits! After earning the top award from the Southeast Festivals and Events Association, the Jekyll Island Authority events staff is working to make the 2019 Shrimp & Grits Festival even more successful.

“Winning this award is an honor and a testament to the professionalism, attention to detail and fun the Jekyll Island Authority staff provide our community and guests,” said Nancy Kring-Rowan, director of events for the JIA.

New additions to the festival, which will be held Sept. 20-22, include the ‘Go for the Grits’ 5K race. Participants will literally be going for the grits, with the fastest 200 runners each taking home a bag of their own, along with a race t-shirt. The Georgia Grown Alley is also expanding, the Georgia National Guard is bringing an escape room, and football fans won’t miss any of the action, thanks to a large-screen TV in the Craft Brew Fest area.

The new offerings join food trucks, live musical performances, Kids’ Zone activities, and the Artists Market — all festival favorites. Acclaimed chefs from across Georgia will compete in the Georgia’s Best Shrimp & Grits Cooking Competition, presented by Quaker. Two previous competition winners, Chef Liz Morris of Eagle Creek Brewing Company in Statesboro and Chef Andrew Smith of Atlanta’s West Egg Café are among them. An expected 45,000 people will attend the festival and the benefits extend beyond the island with a $6.6 million economic impact for the entire Golden Isle Region. Not bad for a festival that was created to bring people back to Jekyll Island after the start of the school year. Kring-Rowan said the festival’s growth has brought the attention of national sponsors such as Quaker, Go RVing and Coca-Cola. “The exposure allows us to provide a better guest experience, showcase the island and provide support for the entire Golden Isles,” she said.

by Dr. Terry Norton, JIA Georgia Sea Turtle Center Director and Veterinarian

Pappi was a juvenile green sea turtle that stranded on Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island on July 29, 2018. Pappi was extremely debilitated and had severe fibropapillomatosis (FP) upon initial evaluation. FP is a condition most commonly found – and most severe – in green sea turtles, which is caused by a herpes virus infection. It does occur in other sea turtle species but with less frequency and severity. One of the manifestations of this disease is tumor-like growths developing on the skin, eyes, bone, and even in internal organs. As you can see from the photos, Pappi had very large tumors all over her skin and eyes (Images 1 & 2). A Cat (CT) scan was performed to rule out internal tumor involvement. Thankfully Pappi did not have internal tumors because if she did, humane euthanasia would have been indicated. If turtles have internal tumors, there is nothing we can do to help them because they continue to seed tumor cells to the skin and other organs. It is thought that the immune system is compromised in turtles that develop tumors, which may occur from pollution, excess nitrogen run off from land into the ocean, and other stressors.

Pappi was treated for dehydration, low glucose and calcium. She was treated with antibiotics initially and throughout the treatment process because secondary bacterial infections are common in turtles with FP. Good nutrition and water quality are essential for turtles undergoing rehabilitation and really were helpful to get some body weight back onto Pappi. Thank you to SeaLife Aquarium/Merlin Entertainment for working with the Jekyll Island Foundation (JIF) to provide funding for 2 new tanks,  filtration systems, and other important life support system equipment.

Pappi underwent 5 surgeries to remove all her tumors. We typically limit general anesthesia time for FP surgeries to 1 hour thus it takes several surgeries to remove all the tumors. We use a C02 laser to remove the tumors because it is very quick, and bleeding is much reduced when compared to traditional surgery. Many thanks to JIF and their donors for raising the funds for our C02 laser. We use pain management drugs before and after the surgeries. We have done studies to figure out the correct dosages for both tramadol and meloxicam, drugs commonly used in humans to relieve pain. Thank you to the Georgia Aquarium and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC for providing partial funding for some of these studies. 

After several months of surgeries, treatment, and healing Pappi was like a new turtle – fat, sassy, and tumor free (Images 3 & 4). Pappi was recently released off Jekyll Island and did not have any hesitation as she swam away. Pappi is now back in the ocean eating algae and sea grass. Good luck Pappi! 

If you would like to support the work of the GSTC to help sea turtles like Pappi, please click here to see how you can help!

by Ben Carswell, JIA Director of Conservation

Migratory birds are front and center, welcoming visitors to the Mosaic – the reimagined museum of Jekyll Island. Jekyll, along with much of coastal Georgia, is truly a haven for a stunning diversity of avian life. A mixed flock of sculpted birds flies over the image of Jekyll Island in the Mosaic’s lobby, representing the stunning range of diversity in shape and color of the migratory bird species that use the Atlantic Flyway migratory route along our coast.

These differences in form reflect the many ways that birds are adapted to survive in a complex and ever-changing environment, navigating challenges and threats at every turn. Despite their physical differences, they are all long-distance travelers – island and continent hoppers – transiting the open-ocean to find their way to our little island. Some are here to nest and reproduce, like the colorful painted bunting. Others are just passing overhead, gracing us with their calls in flight, like the majestic sandhill crane.

For those that rely on Jekyll Island for food, much needed rest, or for their breeding grounds, it is vital that we sustain a hospitable refuge for them here. Many of these birds, such as the whimbrel, face hunting pressure in their winter range. Painted buntings are taken from the wild and caged as pets. By understanding their needs and easing the pressures they face here, we can help bolster threatened populations to be more resilient in the face of hazards that are beyond our control far away. The JIA Conservation department has been focused first and foremost on shorebird monitoring and conservation. This is because shorebirds as a group of species are suffering widespread declines in their numbers. With your support, through the Jekyll Island Foundation, we aim to expand our efforts to include a broader range of migratory bird species deserving conservation attention, such as the painted bunting. To donate, visit jekyllislandfoundation.org

by Bruce Piatek, JIA Director of Historical Resources

We have continued the restoration and improvement of Hollybourne Cottage. Tabby paving is now in place and it restores the carriage drive, also referred to as the “welcoming arms.” Now Hollybourne Cottage is connected to the road system in the Historic District and no longer appears to be the Cottage isolated in a lawn. The carriage drive and the walkways mimic the original shell-paved drive and foot paths.

Another Hollybourne improvement is the addition of a climate control system to Hollybourne. This major improvement will make the building useable for public activities year-round. We are installing a new type of air conditioning system which is a high air velocity system that has smaller ducts thereby reducing the damage to the historic building. Once the system is fully operational we will slowly cool and dehumidify the building. If we change the interior environment of the building too quickly it could cause damage. The next steps will be to rehabilitate the windows and add insulation to the attic.

The primary project for our winter volunteer work crew was the re-creation of the drying yard. Guests to the Historic District often wonder about the sunken areas that look like swimming pools behind the cottages. These were drying yards and they were sunken to help conceal the laundry that was hung on clotheslines. They were also surrounded by fences or lattice. Historic preservationist Taylor Davis, assisted by volunteer Brian Beauchamp, researched the photographs and determined the correct drying yard surround was lattice. Our volunteer team decided to build the lattice themselves to match the original. This required a customized jig, multiple router bits, and thousands of router cuts, to manufacture the interlaced lattice pattern. Once the build was complete, they added preservative, primer, and paint. This new addition to Hollybourne significantly improved the historically-accurate appearance of this beautiful cottage.

Our heartfelt thanks to volunteers who helped construct and the many generous donors who provide the materials needed for this project. If you wish to donate, please visit jekyllislandfoundation.org

More than a thousand visitors attended grand opening festivities on April 27 for Mosaic, and since then thousands more have experienced the reimagined Jekyll Island museum. The $3.1 million redesign and restoration of the museum includes interactive exhibits that explore the cultural and natural history of the island, while preserving the important architectural details of the 122-year-old former Jekyll Island Club stable in which it is located. The Jekyll Island Foundation drove the fundraising efforts for Mosaic, which began nearly five years ago.

Having a photo taken next to the striking Jekyll Mosaic sign on the museum’s lawn has become a new tradition for island visitors. Once inside the museum, visitors can slide behind the wheel of a 1947 Studebaker, listen to vintage tunes on the radio, and imagine crossing the causeway to the newly opened Jekyll Island State Park in the 1950s. Children enjoy climbing aboard a replica of a yawl, a Colonial era sailing vessel, and into an oversized eagle’s nest where they can try on felt eagle masks and feathered capes.

Adults are drawn to displays of luxury items once owned by Jekyll Island Club members. Visitors of all ages can’t resist taking a ride on a red “bug” via an exhibit that captures the thrill of driving around the island in a small, go-cart-like roadster popular in the early 1900s when traditional motorcars were prohibited. Mosaic guides visitors through the fascinating history of the island, beginning with the Native American era through the 1960s.

After exploring the museum gallery, visitors can browse the expanded gift shop and reserve a tram tour of the National Historic Landmark District. Mosaic gallery admission is included with the Landmark Tour and a new combination ticket includes museum and Georgia Sea Turtle Center admission.

Mosaic’s tack room has hosted several natural history and environmental lectures, but an additional space remains to be constructed. Phase II of Mosaic will include a covered outdoor pavilion that will be used for educational and special programming. The Jekyll Island Foundation invites you to contribute to this second phase, which will provide a well-rounded experience for the history and ecology education offered at Mosaic. For more information, to view renderings, or to donate, click here.

By Ben Carswell, JIA Director of Conservation

Opportunities abound on Jekyll to establish and promote ecosystem values that better support the creatures that call our island home – those animals that share the landscape with us, and whose forbears shared it with Jekyll Island Club members and with Native Americans.

Modern Conservation land management practices—like invasive plant control, prescribed fire, connecting habitat fragments, pollinator-friendly landscaping, and restoration or creation of native grasslands and wetlands—all contribute to greater productivity and diversity of wildlife, great and small.

The land management activities of Jekyll Island’s past – colonial agriculture, club-era forestry, and state-park era landscape decisions – all influence the environment that exists today. And, what we learn from Jekyll Island’s deep history can inform us as we seek to improve upon the status quo to make Jekyll the best it can be for native animals.   

One example of a project that could be supported with this fund is the restoration of maritime grasslands along Beachview Road between the road and the beachfront path.  The wildlife value of this land was degraded when the area was flattened during the initial development of the island by the state. Maritime grasslands are a rare and important coastal plant community, dominated by sweet grass (also known as muhly grass), that provides abundant forage for small mammals that are the base of a diverse barrier island food web. Sweet grass is also an icon of coastal Georgia and South Carolina with roots in Gullah-Geechee cultural traditions such as basket weaving. Some of this area has already been restored, but much more remains. With your help, we can work toward making all of it more attractive for people and for wildlife.  

Donor contributions to this initiative will support conservation activities aimed specifically at improving wildlife habitat on the island by ensuring that Jekyll has the necessary resources and staff training to apply cutting-edge science and state-of-the art management practice to that goal.

Money magazine ranked Jekyll Island No. 1 among U.S. travel destinations on its list of “The 20 Best Places to Go in 2019.” This is just one of many accolades earned so far this year. Jekyll placed second on a list of “19 best beaches for families and kids” compiled by NBC-TV’s “Today” show. Driftwood Beach was designated as the No. 10 beach in the country in TripAdvisor’s 2019 Travelers’ Choice Awards.

Jekyll Island Authority Executive Director Jones Hooks said this kind of recognition affirms the work JIA has done to redevelop the island and make it more appealing to visitors and residents. It also reaffirms the value of the Carrying Capacity and Infrastructure Study, commissioned to determine the number of people, vehicles, and development that Jekyll can accommodate while still maintaining its unique character. 

“We are pleased to see Jekyll Island continuing to garner national recognition for its blend of character, culture, history, and ecology,” he said. “It underscores the importance of our mission to preserve and protect the island’s historic and natural resources, while at the same time welcoming new and returning visitors.”

Money employed a rigorous methodology “featuring more than 43,000 data points collected from dozens of sources,” including the travel booking site Kayak. The cost and quality of nearly 750 popular destinations were evaluated to determine which offered value and “activities and amenities that make vacations memorable.” TripAdvisor’s Choice Award winners are based on millions of reviews and opinions collected from travelers worldwide.

The “Today” show coverage includes the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Corsair Beach Park, and Mosaic, the Jekyll Island Museum — which opened in April — among island amenities that are ideal for “making memories and keeping the kids occupied for hours on end.”
Additional recognition for Jekyll so far in 2019 includes being selected as one of the “Top 15 Beaches on the East Coast” (Town and Country), and “best weekend getaway” in Georgia (MSN Travel). In late 2018 Architectural Digest lauded the island as one of the “50 most beautiful small towns in America.”