Sea Island, Georgia

Last updated

Sea Island
The Cloister Hotel, Sea Island, Georgia LCCN2017711265.jpg
The Cloister Hotel on Sea Island in 1990
USA Georgia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Sea Island
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Sea Island
Coordinates: 31°12′6.22″N81°19′54.1″W / 31.2017278°N 81.331694°W / 31.2017278; -81.331694
Country United States
State Georgia
County Glynn
Elevation
10 ft (3 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total298
 • Urban density54/sq mi (21/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
31561 [1]
Area code 912
Sea Island, Georgia

Sea Island is a privately owned, unincorporated area of Glynn County, Georgia, and is part of the Golden Isles of Georgia, which include St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island, and the mainland city of Brunswick. The well-visited seaside resort island is located along the Atlantic Coast just east of St. Simons Island. It lies about 60 miles (97 km) north of Jacksonville, Florida, and about 60 miles (97 km) south of Savannah, Georgia, and is reachable via a causeway from St. Simons Island. The Anschutz family of Denver, Colorado, owns two resorts with limited public access and maintains a gated community for around 500 single-family residences.

Contents

The resorts, Sea Island Beach Club and The Cloister, are located a short distance from one another, connected by a roundabout in the middle of Sea Island Drive, the island's main connecting road. The oceanfront Beach Club contains restaurants, a game room, a bowling alley, an ice cream shop, a bar, and three pools. Sea Island's main hotel, The Cloister, is located on its southwestern side along the Black Banks River. It includes restaurants, 200 rooms, a spa, tennis and squash courts, an exercise facility, and is home to the only Forbes Five Star restaurant in the state of Georgia, The Georgian Room. It is the only resort in the world to have received four Forbes Five-Star awards for fifteen consecutive years.

Georgia's Sea Island is part of a long chain of barrier islands, also known as the "Sea Islands", located along the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia and northern Florida between the Santee and St. Johns rivers.

History

May Patterson Goodrum retired to this property, South Wind, on Sea Island in 1958 Mrs. James J. Goodrum, Southwind, residence on Sea Island, Georgia. LOC gsc.5a02938.jpg
May Patterson Goodrum retired to this property, South Wind, on Sea Island in 1958

Like many of the easternmost barrier islands of Georgia, Sea Island was formed about 5,000 years ago, after the last major ice age. [2] Unlike the much older, Pleistocene-age islands just to its west, there is little information about early human activity on the island. Most of its recorded history dates from the beginning of the 20th century.

Its original English name was Fifth Creek Island. Its first known white settler was Captain James Mackay, who served under General Oglethorpe at Fort Frederica. [3] Subsequent holders included a series of St. Simons Island plantation owners, who used the land primarily for grazing. [4] In 1926, automobile magnate Howard Coffin added it to his other land purchases in coastal Georgia. Two years later, on the advice of friends who foresaw the potential in oceanfront properties, he opened the Cloister Hotel that was nicknamed the "Little Friendly Hotel" and turned over its management to his cousin, Alfred W. Jones. [5] Upon Howard Coffin's death in 1937, A. W. Jones inherited the property, along with other tracts of nearby coastal land owned by the Sea Island Company. [6]

Eugene O'Neill on Sea Island in May 1936. Credit: Carl Van Vechten Portrait of Eugene O'Neill, at Sea Island Bend.png
Eugene O'Neill on Sea Island in May 1936.
Credit: Carl Van Vechten

From its beginnings, the Cloister was a success, attracting a variety of "Roaring Twenties" luminaries. [7] When President Calvin Coolidge decided to spend his Christmas holidays on Sea Island in 1928, the new hotel gained national attention. Promoted as a quiet, worry-free escape, as opposed to some of the high-energy resorts in Florida, the Cloister appealed to businessmen, politicians, and celebrities, including New York Mayor Jimmy Walker, Edsel Ford, John D. Rockefeller Jr., Eddie Rickenbacker, and many others. In addition to the hotel, Mr. Coffin also dreamed of creating a residential community on the island and encouraged his guests to consider building "cottages" nearby. To that end, he brought in electricity, water and telephone service, and improved causeway access to both St. Simons and Sea Islands. Among those building homes was Eugene O’Neill, who wrote the play Ah, Wilderness! while there. [5]

Although growth slowed during the Great Depression, the still modest resort was able to make it through the financial crisis and World War II. In the postwar years, the Cloister and its surrounding community grew slowly, with the hotel welcoming a steady stream of distinguished guests, including U.S. presidents Hoover, Eisenhower, Ford and Carter. [8] In 1949, Sarah Churchill married photographer Anthony Beauchamp on the island. [9] Among the thousands of honeymooners to visit were George and Barbara Bush. [8] The island's residential community also grew in numbers and in stature, with some lot prices pushing into the millions of dollars by the end of the 20th century.

21st century

In 2001, The Lodge was built on St. Simons Island with the help of Bill Jones. The Lodge became a hub for golfers and yet another accommodation under the Sea Island umbrella. By 2003, A. W. "Bill" Jones III decided it was time for a complete reconstruction of the Cloister. The historic original building lacked a proper foundation and did not meet modern building codes, [10] so it was completely demolished and replaced, over a three-year period, with a new, luxurious, much larger structure inspired by the original. Upgrades were also made to the resort's beach club and spa. [11]

Just two years after its grand re-opening, the financial panic of 2008 and the subsequent Great Recession hit the Sea Island Company from several directions. Expected property sales in a new, upscale development did not occur. Resort visitation declined. New home purchases in the surrounding community stalled. Revenue from the Cloister dropped by 31% from 2007 to 2009. [11] As a result, and despite winning 5-star travel guide awards the company defaulted on its loans which were later found to have been ill-advised from the start [12] and about 25% of its workforce was laid off. [13] Although two major creditors, Synovus and Bank of America agreed to a restructured loan package in 2009, Sea Island Company was unable to sell off enough of its land holdings, and again defaulted in 2010. Later that year, the company filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, and was acquired by a consortium of investors who formed Sea Island Acquisitions, LLC, to manage the property and turn its business around. [14] [15]

In April 2016, Sea Island Acquisitions completed a $40 million expansion that added a new "Garden Wing" to the Cloister with 63 rooms. [16] In June 2016, the Anschutz family of Denver, Colorado, headed by Philip Anschutz, bought out the other three investors to become the sole owner of Sea Island Company. [17]

Commemorative live oaks

While visiting Sea Island in 1928, President Calvin Coolidge planted a live oak to commemorate the occasion. The planting became a tradition observed by a succession of distinguished guests including presidents and heads of state. In addition to President Coolidge, those who personally planted trees included Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, President George H. W. Bush, Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair, and President Bill Clinton. During the G8 conference in 2004, President George W. Bush planted a tree. [18]

Only one of the commemorative trees is not a live oak. In 1931, Howard Coffin planted an English oak acorn from General Oglethorpe's estate in England, to honor the founder of the Georgia colony. [19]

2004 G8 summit

Junichiro Koizumi meets children at the airport, shortly before the 2004 G8 summit. Junichiro Koizumi.jpg
Junichiro Koizumi meets children at the airport, shortly before the 2004 G8 summit.

From June 8–10, 2004, President George W. Bush chose to host a summit of the Group of Eight leaders at Sea Island. Present at the summit were Prime Minister Paul Martin of Canada, President Jacques Chirac of France, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy, Prime Minister Junichirō Koizumi of Japan, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, and Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom. Also in attendance were European Union Commission President Romano Prodi and several other invited heads of state. [20]

Sea Island was selected for the summit in part because its relative isolation facilitated the extensive security arrangements necessary for such a gathering. As part of the security measures, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated the summit a National Special Security Event (NSSE). [21]

Access to the island was tightly controlled, and press headquarters (the International Media Center) was located in Savannah, Georgia, some 60 miles (97 km) to the north. Protesters and demonstrations were marginalized, in part because the conference venue was located in a nearly inaccessible place. [22]

The leaders and other summit participants discussed issues faced by developing countries in Africa and elsewhere, ranging from peacekeeping operations, HIV/AIDS vaccine development, famine relief, debt reduction, and the eradication of polio. [20]

Golf

The private Ocean Forest golf club Ocean Forest.jpg
The private Ocean Forest golf club

A significant portion of Sea Island's culture and economy revolves around golf. In 1928, two years after Sea Island Company founder Howard Coffin purchased Retreat Plantation, the first nine-hole course was completed and fittingly named Plantation. The next year the second nine, Seaside, was established. In the near future golf legends such as Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, and Sam Snead all ventured to Sea Island to play the courses. The first tournament played in the area was the Sea Island Ladies Open Invitational in 1954, which was won by World Golf Hall of Famer Louise Suggs. Over time, the third resort course, Retreat, and two non-resort affiliated courses, Frederica Golf Club and Ocean Forest Golf Club, were also founded on the island. [23]

In 2001, the scope of golf in Sea Island expanded greatly and golf became the centerpiece that it is today in the area. The creation of the Lodge at Sea Island has allowed golfers to stay on the golf course property. Two premier amateur golf tournaments were played at Ocean Forest Golf Club. The Walker Cup, one of the most prestigious amateur events throughout the world, was held in August 2001 and even featured an opening ceremony headlined by President George H. W. Bush. [24] The second tournament held at Ocean Forest was the inaugural Jones Cup Invitational, named after the club's founding family. Since then, the Jones Cup has been played every year at Ocean Forest, and in 2009 the Jones Cup Junior Invitational was created and held at the Seaside course. Both of these events attract golfers from across the country to compete in very exclusive tournaments at extremely challenging venues. [25]

The following year, the largest tournament that is played in Sea Island was founded. The PGA Tour, with the help of host and Sea Island native Davis Love III, held the first ever McGladrey Classic (now the RSM Classic) on both the Plantation and Seaside courses. The Sea Island community has benefited greatly from this event, through increased exposure and the yearly contributions the Davis Love Foundation raises throughout the tournament week. This tournament has helped attract individuals to travel to or live in Sea Island, which has helped grow the economy in the area and led to the expansion of the resort.

Education

Glynn County's public schools are operated by Glynn County School System.

Zoned schools include:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glynn County, Georgia</span> County in Georgia, United States

Glynn County is located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 84,499. The county seat is Brunswick. Glynn County is part of the Brunswick, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brunswick, Georgia</span> City in Georgia, United States

Brunswick is a city in and the county seat of Glynn County in the U.S. state of Georgia. As the primary urban and economic center of the lower southeast portion of Georgia, it is the second-largest urban area on the Georgia coastline after Savannah and contains the Brunswick Old Town Historic District. At the 2020 U.S. census, the population of the city proper was 15,210; the Brunswick metropolitan area's population as of 2020 was 113,495.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Simons, Georgia</span> Census-designated place in Georgia, United States

St. Simons Island is a barrier island and census-designated place (CDP) located on St. Simons Island in Glynn County, Georgia, United States. The names of the community and the island are interchangeable, known simply as "St. Simons Island" or "SSI", or locally as "The Island". St. Simons is part of the Brunswick metropolitan statistical area, and according to the 2020 U.S. census, the CDP had a population of 14,982. Located on the southeast Georgia coast, midway between Savannah and Jacksonville, St. Simons Island is both a seaside resort and residential community. It is the largest of Georgia's renowned Golden Isles. Visitors are drawn to the Island for its warm climate, beaches, variety of outdoor activities, shops and restaurants, historical sites, and natural environment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Augusta, Georgia</span> Consolidated city-county in the United States

Augusta is a consolidated city-county on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Georgia. The city lies directly across the Savannah River from North Augusta, South Carolina at the head of its navigable portion. Georgia's third most populous city, Augusta is located in the Fall Line section of the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seaside resort</span> Resort located on the coast

A seaside resort is a city, town, village, or hotel that serves as a vacation resort and is located on a coast. Sometimes the concept includes an aspect of official accreditation based on the satisfaction of certain requirements, such as in the German Seebad. Where a beach is the primary focus for tourists, it may be called a beach resort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Resort</span> Self-contained commercial establishment which attempts to provide for most of a vacationers wants

A resort is a self-contained commercial establishment that tries to provide most of a vacationer's wants, such as food, drink, swimming, accommodation, sports, entertainment and shopping, on the premises. A hotel is frequently a central feature of a resort and the term resort may be used for a hotel that provides an array of entertainment and recreational activities. Some resorts are also condominium complexes that are timeshares or owned fractionally or wholly owned condominium. A resort is not always a commercial establishment operated by a single company, but in the late 20th century, that sort of facility became more common.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Broadmoor</span> Historic hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The Broadmoor is a hotel and resort in the Broadmoor neighborhood of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Broadmoor is a member of Historic Hotels of America of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Its visitors have included heads of state, celebrities, and professional sports stars. It is owned by The Anschutz Corporation through its subsidiary, The Broadmoor-Sea Island Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gleneagles Hotel</span> Hotel near Auchterarder, Perth and Kinross, Scotland

Gleneagles Hotel is a hotel near Auchterarder, Scotland. It was commissioned by the Caledonian Railway and opened in 1924. The bandleader Henry Hall performed at the hotel before the Second World War during which it served as a military hospital. There are three tournament-standard golf courses in the grounds and the hotel was redeveloped for the 40th Ryder Cup in 2014. Significant conferences at the hotel have included the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1977 and the 31st G8 summit in July 2005. It is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davis Love III</span> American professional golfer

Davis Milton Love III is an American professional golfer who has won 21 events on the PGA Tour, including one major championship: the 1997 PGA Championship. He won the Players Championship in 1992 and 2003. He was in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking for over 450 weeks, reaching a high ranking of 2nd. He captained the U.S. Ryder Cup teams in 2012 and 2016. Love was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celtic Manor Resort</span> Golf hotel and resort in Newport, Wales

Celtic Manor Resort is a golf, spa and leisure hotel and resort in the city of Newport, South East Wales. Owned by Sir Terry Matthews, the resort is located on the south-facing side of Christchurch Hill in eastern Newport, near Junction 24 of the M4 motorway. The golf courses run over the north-facing side of Christchurch Hill down into the Vale of Usk, overlooking the Wentwood escarpment. The resort's area is circa 2,000 acres (810 ha).

Rees Jones is an American golf course architect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Bloody Marsh</span> Battle during the War of Jenkins Ear

The Battle of Bloody Marsh took place on 7 July 1742 between Spanish and British forces on St. Simons Island, part of the Province of Georgia, resulting in a victory for the British. Part of the War of Jenkins' Ear, the battle was for the British fortifications of Fort Frederica and Fort St. Simons, with the strategic goal the sea routes and inland waters they controlled. With the victory, the Province of Georgia established undisputed claim to the island. The British also won the Battle of Gully Hole Creek, which took place on the island the same day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heiligendamm</span> German seaside resort

Heiligendamm is a German seaside resort founded in 1793.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">30th G8 summit</span> 2004 G8 summit in Sea Island, Georgia, United States

The 30th G8 summit was held in Sea Island, Georgia, United States, on June 8–10, 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Isles of Georgia</span> Place in Georgia, United States

The Golden Isles of Georgia consist of barrier islands, and the mainland port cities of Brunswick and Darien, on the 100-mile-long coast of the U.S. state of Georgia on the Atlantic Ocean. They include St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island, Sapelo Island, Blackbeard Island, Historic Darien and Historic Brunswick. The islands are part of a long chain of barrier islands known as the "Sea Islands", located along the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia and northern Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glynn Academy</span> Public school in Brunswick, Georgia, United States

Glynn Academy (GA) is an American public high school in Brunswick, Georgia, United States, enrolling 1,900 students in grades 9–12. Along with Brunswick High School, it is one of two high schools in the Glynn County School System. Glynn Academy offers technical, academic, and Advanced Placement programs and is accredited by the Georgia Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school has consistently been ranked among the top public high schools in the United States by Newsweek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Oglethorpe</span> Mountain in Georgia, United States

Mount Oglethorpe is a mountain located in Pickens County, Georgia, United States. The southernmost peak in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the mountain has an elevation of 3,288 feet (1,002 m), making it the highest point in Pickens County, and the Atlanta Metropolitan Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Brunswick, Georgia</span>

The recorded History of Brunswick, Georgia dates to 1738, when a 1,000-acre (4 km2) plantation was established along the Turtle River. By 1789, the city was recognized by President George Washington as having been one of five original ports of entry for the American colonies. In 1797, Brunswick's prominence was further recognized when it became the county seat of Glynn County, a status it retains to this day. During the later stages of the Civil War, with the approach of the Union Army, much of the city was abandoned and burned. Economic prosperity eventually returned, when a large lumber mill was constructed in the area. By the late 19th-century, despite yellow fever epidemics and occasional hurricanes, business in Brunswick was thriving, due to port business for cotton, lumber, naval stores, and oysters. During this period, Brunswick also enjoyed a tourist trade, stimulated by nearby Jekyll Island, which had become a posh, exclusive getaway for some of the era's most influential people. World War I stimulated ship building activity in Brunswick. But it was not until World War II that the economy boomed, when 16,000 workers were employed to produce ninety-nine Liberty ships and "Knot" ships. During the war, Brunswick's Glynco Naval Air Station was, for a time, the largest blimp base in the world. Since the end of World War II, the city has enjoyed a period of moderate economic activity, centered on its deep natural port, which is the westernmost harbor on the eastern seaboard. In recent years, in recognition of a thriving local enterprise, Brunswick has declared itself to be the "Shrimp Capital of the World".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RSM Classic</span> PGA Tour golf tournament in St. Simons Island, Georgia

The RSM Classic is a golf tournament on the PGA Tour, played in the autumn in Georgia. It debuted in October 2010 on St. Simons Island, Georgia at the Sea Island Golf Club. The tournament was known as the McGladrey Classic until 2015, when the title sponsor's name changed from McGladrey to RSM US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingsmill Resort</span> Resort in James City County, Virginia

Kingsmill Resort is a vacation, conference, and golf resort in the eastern United States, located in James City County, Virginia, southeast of Williamsburg. It is located on a portion of the Kingsmill Plantation; the original plantation structures and their successors have long been in ruins. It was founded in the 1970s by Anheuser-Busch as part of related developments near Colonial Williamsburg. In 2010, Kingsmill Resort, which sits within a large residential planned community of the same name, was slated to become a vital piece of the entertainment and hospitality system operated by Xanterra Parks and Resorts, one of many enterprises owned by Denver-based billionaire Philip Anschutz. Anschutz bought Xanterra in 2008 after it was a Fred Harvey hospitality company dating to 1876.

References

  1. ↑ "Sea Island ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com. 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  2. ↑ "University Of Georgia". georgiaseagrant.uga.edu. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  3. ↑ Lenz, Richard (1999). Longstreet Highroad Guide to the Georgia Coast & Okefenokee. Marietta, GA: Longstreet Press, Inc. p. 252. ISBN   1-56352-542-9.
  4. ↑ "History's Gatekeeper - Sea Island Life Magazine". March 25, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  5. 1 2 "History of Saint Simons Island, Georgia, GA". www.glynncounty.com. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  6. ↑ Reprints, Peter Waldman. "How Sea Island Became a Paradise Lost". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  7. ↑ "High Tide At Sea Island - Georgia Trend". www.georgiatrend.com. January 2008. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Sherpa Guides".
  9. ↑ "Sarah Churchill Hurries Up Marriage to Photographer". The Milwaukee Journal. October 18, 1949. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Cigar Aficionado | Golf". May 18, 2007. Archived from the original on May 18, 2007. Retrieved June 27, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. 1 2 Wei, Carrick Mollenkamp And Lingling (August 11, 2010). "A Glittering Coastal Resort Goes for Cheap Price". Wall Street Journal. ISSN   0099-9660 . Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Sea Island Co. restructures loan with Synovus - Atlanta Business Chronicle". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  13. ↑ Brown, Robbie (September 30, 2008). "An Unwelcome Guest Intrudes on a Worry-Free Zone for the Rich". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Sea Island Company Reaches Agreement to Sell Substantially All Assets to Limited Partnership Formed by Investment Funds Managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and Avenue Capital Group | Business Wire". www.businesswire.com. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Report: Synovus settles Sea Island lawsuit for $11.8 million | Columbus Ledger-Enquirer". Archived from the original on October 26, 2016.
  16. ↑ "The Cloister at Sea Island Completes Expansion, Debuts 63 New Garden Wing Rooms and 5,000 Square-Foot Ballroom". Hotel Online. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Anschutz family takes control of Sea Island Co. - Atlanta Business Chronicle" . Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  18. ↑ BULL, ROGER. "The Trees of Sea Island | Jacksonville.com". jacksonville.com. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  19. ↑ "James Oglethorpe Dedicated English Oak Tree". www.tytyga.com. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  20. 1 2 "Sea Island Summit 2004". The White House - President George W. Bush. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  21. ↑ "G8 Summit - FirstWatch" . Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  22. ↑ Sanger, David E.; Stevenson, Richard W. (June 10, 2004). "GATHERING ON SEA ISLAND: THE SCENE; World Leaders Get a Glimpse of America's High Life". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Our Golf History". Sea Island. March 10, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Our Story". Ocean Forest Golf Club. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  25. ↑ "History". Jones Cup Invitational. November 17, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Elementary School Zones Map." Glynn County School System. Retrieved on March 13, 2019.
  27. ↑ "Middle School Zones Map." Glynn County School System. Retrieved on March 13, 2019. Detail of Glynn MS Zone Map
  28. ↑ "High School Zones Map." Glynn County School System. Retrieved on March 13, 2019.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.