Points of Interest
St. Simons Island, Georgia
Village & Pier
The Village and Pier represents the heartbeat of Saint Simons Island and is one of the only oceanfront shopping centers on the Eastern seaboard. Located on the south end of the Island you will find a picnic area canopied by massive oak trees, the visitor’s center, The Lighthouse & Museum, Neptune Park, a community theatre, and miniature golf for the family. In addition there is a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and pubs that line Mallory Street. At the end of Mallory Street, past all the shops and restaurants, you’ll find the fishing pier home to the most picturesque sunsets on Saint Simons Island.
Lighthouse & Museum
The lighthouse on Saint Simons represents one of only three lighthouses in the State of Georgia. The original lighthouse was built in the early 1800’s by James Gould. But the structure was destroyed by the confederate army during the Civil War and re-constructed in 1872. The lighthouse stands 108 feet tall and can cast its light nearly 23 miles into the open water. The Lighthouse & Museum are open daily to the public offering a panoramic viewing platform for all who wish to climb the 129 steps. The museum is directly in front of the lighthouse provides detailed descriptions of the lighthouse and how it came to be.
Christ Church
Located on the north end of the Island Christ Church was originally built in the 1820’s, by the Sea Island cotton growers, on land the State of Georgia deeded for a church. Charles Wesley, founder of Methodism, held services at Christ Church during his time on the Island. After its destruction during the Civil War, Christ church was rebuilt by Reverend Anson Phelps Dodge Jr. in memory of his wife Ellen. This church denotes the second oldest Episcopal Church in Georgia and has hosted church services attended by four Presidents; Coolidge, Bush Sr., Wilson and Johnson. Today guests are allowed to tour the small church, view the beautiful stain glass windows, walk through the cemetery with ancient graves, and learn all about the history The Christ Church embraces.
Fort Frederica
In 1736 James Edward Oglethorpe built Fort Frederica to protect the colony of Georgia from Spain. In its early days the Fort encompassed seventy homes and nearly five-hundred colonists which made way for a bustling town. Frederica the town also included taverns and fresh markets all of which were surrounded by the protective walls of the fort. After the British successfully defeated the Spanish for the territory of St. Simons, most of the people moved outside the protection of the fort walls. The colonists began working on plantations which lead the fort into a state of disrepair and eventually its destruction. Today, Fort Frederica is considered a national monument and offers daily tours, self-guided explorations, and a museum displaying many of the artifacts.
Saint Simons Island Airport
Malcolm B. McKinnon Airport, located on St. Simons Island, provides fueling for private aircraft, maintenance, avionics, pilot services, up-to-date weather information, and aircraft catering operated by Golden Isles Aviation, an Exxon dealer. Constructed in the mid-1930’s, the airfield once served as the civil air patrol in World War II for the U.S. Navy. Today, the facility is still in operation and continues to welcome aviators and aircraft from all nations.
Battle of Bloody Marsh Site
On July 7th 1742 an important battle was fought that forever changed the history and culture of the Southeast. The Battle of Bloody Marsh was fought between the Spanish and British and took place on Saint Simons Island. At the time the governor of St. Augustine brought 3,000 troops into Georgia to overtake the British and reclaim the land for Spain. When the Spanish landed on Saint Simons Island they easily overtook Fort Saint Simons and the British troops began to retreat to Fort Frederica being out numbered five to one. The Spanish saw the tracks of the retreating soldiers and assumed that the fighting was over for the day. They stacked their guns and set up camp for the night, making fires to cook their dinners. Once they were settled in, the British ambushed the soldiers and the marshes turned red from the blood of the Spaniards. Although the British were still out numbered Oglethorpe decided to attack Fort Saint Simons that night while the Spanish were still recovering from the day’s events. On the way to the battle one of his men deserted firing a warning shot to alert the Spanish. General Oglethorpe delayed the battle and chose to pretend the man who deserted was actually a spy for the English. He sent the deserter a letter, knowing that it would be intercepted; the letter said that the man should convince the Spanish to attack that night or have them wait until the reinforcements could arrive from England. They imprisoned the Frenchman and believed that the English would on their way to help in the attack. Their false fears were realized when they saw several ships on the horizon and they retreated back to St. Augustine never to return. Little did they know that the ships that day were not English reinforcements but ships from South Carolina sent to see if the Spanish had taken over the Port. At the time this battle may not have seemed significant but it decided the future of the state of Georgia. Today the site of the Battle of Bloody marsh can be found just off of Demere Road.
Neptune Park
Neptune Park was named after a slave who belonged to Henry Lord King. After Henry was killed in battle at Virginia, Neptune Smalls recovered his remains and traveled over five hundred miles delivering the body to his family here on St. Simons Island. In honor of his heroic efforts the family named what is still today Neptune Park. Neptune Park is now the site of a miniature golf course, play ground, and bandstand that hosts several events year round. The park also has a picnic area with perfect views of the Atlantic Ocean for those who wish to eat in the park.
Epworth by the Sea
Built on the old site of Hamilton Plantation, Epworth by the Sea has been operating since 1950. This ninety-two acre plot of land plays host to the oldest standing church on the Island, Union Chapel, now called Lovely Lane Chapel. This property plays host to six motels, twelve family sized apartments, thirteen youth buildings, three auditoriums for special events, and thirty-one meeting rooms. There are four dining rooms, a nursery, playground, swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball court, two fishing piers and open fields for soccer and baseball. The name Epworth comes from a town in England where the infamous Wesley brothers are from. John and Charles Wesley were the first preachers on the grounds and still to this day are honored by the name Epworth by the Sea.
Gascoigne Bluff and Hamilton Plantation
Gascoigne Bluff is the first attraction visitors see when arriving from the mainland to Saint Simons Island. This stretch of land named after Captain James Gascoigne has played an important role in shaping the history of Georgia. Gascoigne was given the five-hundred acre parcel for escorting the first British to Georgia in 1735. Before Gascoigne this area was the location of an American Indian campground in the sixteenth century. After Gascoigne, the land changed hands several times and ended with a shipper and farmer known as J. Hamilton. It was in 1793 that Hamilton established this bluff as the docking location for the Sea Island Cotton Company, shipping cotton to destinations around the world. After the Plantation Era, Gascoigne Bluff became the site of one of the largest mills on the Island. The milled trees were used to build the USS Constitution also known as “Old Ironsides”. Also, the timbers taken from this oak tree forest were used to help construct the Brooklyn Bridge. Today you will find many large oaks, frisbee golf, fitness trail, fishing pier, Cassina Garden Club, and The Villas at Frederica River on Gascoigne Bluff.