Welcome to my blog page! This is the first blog of many to come, all focusing on different aspects of research, documenting, and writing. Yet all will focus on the content of my first historic non-fiction book “From Millionaires to Commoners-The History of Jekyll Island State Park”
Let’s start by asking the question of why the book is divided into two separate and distinct parts. Is it because by doing so the readers get a clean break? Or is it because it allows several pictures to be inserted without distracting the readers from the historic storyline?
Actually, it is neither one.
The history of Jekyll Island, when examined in its entirety, automatically divides itself into two separate historic periods. The first period, from 1945 to 1986, is characterized best as one of creation and rapid growth. A period of self-manifestation within the grand scheme of Georgia tourism and development of state parks in general. It reaches its perfect apex with the restoration and the opening of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.
But it is also the onset of its own road downhill, although certainly not intentional. It is ironic however that the grand opening of a landmark hotel, once the home and private retreat of America’s elite and millionaires, can set in motion the rapid and steady decline of a state park, so carefully and diligently constructed over the past forty years.
It is therefore not a surprise that the second part of the book starts in 1987, to mark the beginning of the end for Jekyll Island State Park, as known until then.
The success of the newly restored Historic Landmark Hotel inadvertently caused the demise of the oceanfront hotels and motels. A new quality and service standard were clearly set and one that none of the beachfront hotels could possibly adhere to or compete with.
It would take a complete makeover in 2012 to mark the beginning of a new cycle of prosperity that would ultimately restore Jekyll Island’s tourist attraction and place it back on the road of growth, expansion, and success.
If history can serve as a valuable lesson, then we can safely conclude that another period of contraction and trouble will certainly follow the apex of the current growth cycle.
We don’t know when, but we know it will inevitably.
Stay tuned for more blogs and information about the book.
Hope to see you all again very soon.
