Affordability

The state acquired Jekyll Island in 1947 and designated it a state park to be enjoyed by all Georgians. For more than 60 years, Georgians and out-of-state visitors have delighted in the natural seaside retreat of Jekyll Island. As the Jekyll Island Authority initiated the process of finding a private partner for the revitalization effort, the concern was voiced that some Georgians would be excluded from high-priced redevelopment. That simply isn't true. In fact, under the proposed plan, Georgians and other visitors will continue to find that enjoyment on Jekyll Island will still be affordable and sometimes doesn't cost anything at all.

What Georgians are Spending

Governor Melvin Thompson declared that Jekyll Island should be accessible to "the plain people of Georgia." That moniker prompted the question of whether the revitalization effort will lead to a Jekyll Island that's beyond the reach of the "average Georgian." But who is the average Georgian? And what are they expecting to spend? It's a tough question to answer.

According to a 2006 report produced by the Georgia Department of Economic Development Tourism Division, Georgians spent $2.8 billion on traveling in their home state last year. Georgia's coast received its fair share of those travelers with state visitors doling out almost $243 million on seaside travel. The report indicates that Georgians traveling within the state spent an average of $80 per person per day, giving a family of four an estimated expenditure of $320 per day.

The truth is, Georgians cross all economic strata and have varying expectations about spending. Linger Longer Communities took this fact into consideration when developing the revitalization plan, which is why the plan includes lodging at several price points and a host of new and restored amenities that are meant for all visitors to enjoy at no charge.

Lodging

Linger Longer proposes to give visitors a spectrum of accommodation choices, from economy to higher end. These additions also expand the island's lodging options to include traditional hotels, vacation cottages and vacation club accommodations. It should also be noted that the existing hotels – Oceanside, Quality Inn, Buccaneer, Days Inn, Oceanfront Resort, Beachview Club, Villas by the Sea and the Jekyll Island Club Hotel – will continue to operate on the island, providing the same accommodations that have been available to travelers in recent years.

Daytrippers

For daytrippers, out-of-pocket expense is purely a matter of choice. The revitalization plan includes preservation and expansion of green space, nature trails and public beach access for everyone who visits Jekyll Island to enjoy. Additional green space in the form of parks and communal recreation areas will give daytrippers plenty of free space to enjoy the distinct environment of the island, whether through a long walk, a bike ride or a picnic in one of the open park spaces. Through the conservation efforts in its proposed plan, Linger Longer hopes to give wildlife enthusiasts and bird-watchers plenty of opportunity for close encounters in undisturbed and reclaimed natural habitats.

Plans for self-guided ecological tours of the island will offer visitors the opportunity to enhance their island experience with a greater understanding of the island's ecosystem and indigenous plant life. Long-term, Linger Longer Communities envisions a linear arboretum, tying together multiple threads of the trail with an educational experience that interprets the natural environment.

Separate pedestrian and bike paths will accommodate running, walking and cycling enthusiasts. As for the proposed shopping in the Village Center, window-shopping is always free.

For more information, please visit the News & Downloads section to download the proposal.