Jekyll Island Club

Jekyll Island Club is a historic district on a barrier island off the Georgia coast in Glynn County. The buildings display Victorian elements including turrets, leaded glass windows, and carved wooden paneling inside.

In 1886 a group of wealthy families purchased the island and founded the private club as a winter retreat. Until it closed during World War II, influential American industrialists met there regularly.

The name honors William Jekyll, whose family once owned the island before it became a retreat. Today visitors walk through the preserved grounds and gardens, seeing how the compound was laid out during its early days as a private club.

The island is reached via a causeway from the mainland, and paths lead through the compound to different historic homes. A visit combines well with beach walks or a stop at the nearby turtle center.

An informal planning meeting in 1910 led to the sketching of a financial reform concept here that later formed the basis for the American central banking system. Participants traveled under false names to remain unrecognized.

Location: Glynn County

Inception: 1886

GPS coordinates: 31.06056,-81.42194

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:20