The Jekyll Island Authority needs to understand that hotels and condominiums are no longer bringing people to Jekyll Island. It’s the charm of the island itself.
I am a visitor to Jekyll over the age of 50 and I can tell you that I still get excited when I drive down the causeway. Crossing the Jekyll River Bridge is like crossing a time warp into another era – the era when everything slows down, life becomes easy, and people start acting like humans again. It’s an escape from the world’s turmoil.
It’s a place where you can go for a conservation with someone by a fire pit or swimming pool, and before you know it, lots of others have gone through and you’ve lost track of time and hours have passed. The JIA must capitalize on this.
Building more condos and discussing golf course development for those condos will only turn Jekyll into another overcrowded and overpriced tourist trap. It’s the wildlife, the history, bike rides, the people, small family-owned shops. It’s this family atmosphere where you don’t have to worry and enjoy what Jekyll has to offer to the full.
Please, JIA, stop building and focus on what is there now. Let residents, business owners, and visitors suggest ways to increase sales without ruining what makes Jekyll Island so special to many people. The best ideas come from listening to others. Thanks for your time.
