A Time for Renewal

The tide creeps in and slides out again. Sea turtles nest in sand dunes, their offspring scuttering across the beach to begin another journey in the island's never-ending whorl of life. The sun rises over Driftwood Beach and sets on the marshes.

Renewal is a constant theme on Jekyll Island, whether in the breathtaking realm of nature or in something a bit more manmade. In this issue of 31•81, The Magazine of Jekyll Island, we highlight the revitalization of the island's infrastructure, a remarkable, decade-plus effort that has given this once-sleepy place new roads, hotels, businesses, a boost of energy, and a ticket into the 21st century. Writer Josh Green details how caretakers have deftly balanced a serious responsibility to maintain the island's unspoiled charm with the need to provide first-class amenities and a top-shelf experience that will entice people to return for decades to come (page 62).

Striking the right balance can be tricky. Even the wondrous natural habitat that remains the premiere draw of Jekyll needs help every once in a while. Erica Glasener has the story of the stewards who care for Jekyll's gorgeous tree canopy (page 30), a job that sometimes means uprooting and transplanting the majestic live oaks and Italian cypress that pepper the island's landscape.

Elsewhere in this issue, Scott Freeman (page 40) recounts the night that an iconic Southern Rock band played Jekyll, long before they turned iconic. In 1970, the Allman Brothers Band played a high school dance at the island's now-defunct Gould Auditorium. A month or so later, they were playing before 300,000 fans in Atlanta.

And then there's film critic Curt Holman's piece (page 54) on Jekyll Island's turn as a cinematic home to soldiers, golfers, mutant superheroes, and more than a few slackeyed, flesh-eating undead. Because, after all, nobody knows more about renewal than The Walking Dead.

Located just a few steps from the ocean and complemented with warm hospitality, the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Jekyll Island welcomes you. Surrounded by lush maritime forests and the beautiful Atlantic ocean, the Hampton Inn and Suites exudes tranquility, but we are just minutes away from the Jekyll Island National Historic Landmark District.

Whether your visit to Jekyll Island is for leisure, a meeting, or to attend a wedding, the hotel’s modern, spacious 138 guestrooms feature generous services and amenities. Guests will enjoy complimentary breakfast, outdoor pool, kids pool and jacuzzi, and full service lobby bar. Pet friendly rooms are also available.

200 South Beachview Dr. 912-635-3733 jekyllislandsuites.hamptoninn.com