The Jekyll Island Company

What The Jekyll Island Company does

The Jekyll Island Company operates as the Jekyll Island Authority (JIA), a self-supporting state entity of Georgia that has managed Jekyll Island State Park since 1947 under gubernatorial board appointment. It runs an integrated vacation, conservation, and education destination built around 10 miles of beaches, a 240-acre National Historic Landmark District of Gilded Age-era cottages, four championship golf courses, a 13-court Har-tru tennis center, the Summer Waves Water Park, Jekyll Harbor Marina, and Georgia's only sea turtle rehabilitation facility. Its convention and venue business is anchored by a 128,000-square-foot LEED Silver-certified convention center (the only oceanfront convention center on the U.S. East Coast south of New Jersey), supported by historic venues such as Hollybourne Cottage, Faith Chapel, and Villa Ospo.

Revenue is generated through a layered model: commercial leases on the approximately 1,400 on-island hotel rooms and retail properties, direct operation of recreation amenities and the campground, ticket-based visitor fees and parking, and event-driven income from the convention center, weddings, and group gatherings. The convention center is operated under an ASM Global management contract with Legends Global handling catering and Inspire providing audiovisual services. Distribution is hybrid — direct-to-consumer via jekyllisland.com, email, and social channels; enterprise sales into corporate, wedding, and association segments; and 30-year relationships with motorcoach tour operators (ABA, NTA, State Motorcoach Associations) positioning the island as a hub between Savannah and St. Augustine.

The customer base spans individual leisure travelers and families, motorcoach tour groups, corporate and social event planners, nature and conservation visitors, recreation enthusiasts, history and culture tourists, and youth/educational groups served through a long-standing Georgia 4-H partnership that operates Camp Jekyll and the 4-H Tidelands Nature Center. Because JIA does not receive tax revenues, all operating costs and capital projects are funded from operating income, lease payments, and amenity fees, with governance anchored by the Jekyll Island Master Plan (last updated December 14, 2021) and a 2012 Environmental Assessment Procedure that governs all development decisions.

Name

The Jekyll Island Company

Legal name

Jekyll Island Authority

Website

https://jekyllisland.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Jekyll Island Company operates the Jekyll Island Authority, a self-supporting Georgia state entity managing Jekyll Island State Park as an integrated vacation, conservation, and education destination serving leisure travelers, corporate and social event planners, motorcoach tour groups, and youth/educational programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Destination Resort & Vacation Tourism

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds (721211), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Amusement and Theme Parks (71311), Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

National/State Park Campgrounds & Public Campgrounds (THAMAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Campgrounds & RV Parks (Developed Sites) (THAGAOAA), National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA), Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAA), River & Wetland Ecotours (Canoe/Kayak, Mangrove/Swamp Tours) (THAAAEAE)

Keywords

• Vacation destination resort
• Convention event venue
• Outdoor recreation activities
• Historic venue rentals
• Conservation education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Jekyll Island

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Leases and Property Rentals: Jekyll Island Authority generates revenue through commercial leases with hotels, restaurants, retail establishments, and other businesses operating on the island. Properties include major hotel brands and independent businesses.
2. Island Amenity Operations: Direct revenue from operating island amenities including Summer Waves Water Park, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Mosaic museum, golf courses, tennis center, campground, marina, and historic venue rentals.
3. Visitor Fees and Parking: Revenue from visitor fees, parking charges, and access fees for various attractions and activities across the island.
4. Historic Venue Rentals: Rental income from historic properties including Hollybourne Cottage, Faith Chapel, Villa Ospo, and additional historic sites for weddings, events, and gatherings.
5. Convention Center Services: Revenue from convention center rentals, catering services (through Legends Global), audiovisual services, and event management for corporate and social events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Jekyll Island Authority operates Jekyll Island State Park as a vacation, conservation, and education destination, offering lodging accommodations across 1,400 hotel rooms, recreational activities (golf, tennis, water park, biking), a LEED Silver Certified oceanfront Convention Center, historic venue rentals, conservation education programs (Georgia Sea Turtle Center, 4-H Tidelands Nature Center), and curated tours targeting individual vacationers, families, corporate event planners, and motorcoach tour groups.

Product overview

The Jekyll Island Company operates as the Jekyll Island Authority, a self-supporting state entity managing Jekyll Island as a vacation, conservation, and education destination. The company offers a diverse portfolio of products including: recreation activities (Golf with four courses, Summer Waves Water Park, Biking with 24+ miles of trails, Mini Golf, Tennis with 13 Har-tru clay courts, Horseback Riding); conservation and education facilities (Georgia Sea Turtle Center, 4-H Tidelands Nature Center, Mosaic Museum, Horton Pond nature area); venue rentals (Jekyll Island Convention Center with 128,000 sq ft of meeting space, Historic Rentals including Hollybourne Cottage, Faith Chapel, and other historic venues); lodging accommodations (multiple hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, and campground); water activities (Jekyll Harbor Marina, Fishing Center, Boat Tours); youth programming (Camp Jekyll operated with Georgia 4-H); and tour services (Historic trolley tours, carriage tours, motorcoach packages). The overall offering combines nature-based recreation with historical preservation and environmental conservation education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Georgia Sea Turtle Center: Georgia's only sea turtle education and rehabilitation facility.
• Mosaic - Jekyll Island Museum
• Summer Waves Water Park
• Jekyll Island Convention Center
• Camp Jekyll
• 4-H Tidelands Nature Center
• Jekyll Island Foundation

Products and services

• Golf

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jekyll Island FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Non-profit partner supporting conservation and educational initiatives. Partnered on Horton Pond improvements in 2015 and ongoing fundraising for trail connections between historic sites.
• Georgia 4-HcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Long-standing partnership since 1983 with Georgia 4-H to operate Camp Jekyll and the 4-H Tidelands Nature Center. Georgia 4-H handles programming, reservations, and day-to-day operations of Camp Jekyll while JIA maintains buildings and grounds. The partnership includes environmental education programs beginning in 1987 and summer camp programs.
• ASM GlobalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerASM Global manages operations of the Jekyll Island Convention Center, providing professional venue management, event services, and operational expertise for the 128,000-square-foot facility.
• Legends GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegends Global provides full-service catering at the Jekyll Island Convention Center, including gala banquets, receptions, rehearsal dinners, brunches, refreshment breaks, theme parties, and beachside cookouts.
• Golden Isles Carriage and Trail at Three Oaks FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides horseback riding experiences on Driftwood Beach, narrated horse-drawn carriage tours of the Historic District, and a petting zoo. Offers camps, events, rentals, and wedding carriage services.
• Jekyll Island Boat Tours (Captain Phillip)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS Coast Guard-certified boat tours offering dolphin tours, private group tours, group shrimping ECO tours, and sight-seeing tours with experienced Master Mariners.
• ABA, NTA, and State Motorcoach AssociationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTourism industry associations for motorcoach operators. Jekyll Island has been a member for 30 years and collaborates on tour packages and group travel marketing.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sea Island Company: Operates the Cloister and Sea Island Resort on a private Georgia barrier island near Jekyll. Most directly comparable coastal Georgia destination with similar lodging, golf, spa, beach, and family programming business model.
• Kiawah Island Golf Resort: South Carolina Lowcountry resort community with multiple golf courses, tennis, beach, nature programs, and vacation rental lodging. Closely comparable destination-resort model anchored on a barrier island.
• Pinehurst Resort: Iconic multi-course golf and tennis destination resort with historic district, lodging, spa, and event venues. Comparable on golf-anchored heritage destination-resort positioning with conference/event capabilities.
• Amelia Island State Park / Amelia Island Plantation: Florida-Georgia border barrier island destination with beaches, historic district, golf, and resort lodging. Comparable coastal Southeast resort destination with conservation framing.
• Wild Dunes Resort (Charleston, SC): South Carolina Lowcountry oceanfront resort with golf, tennis, multiple restaurants, beach access, and vacation rentals. Comparable destination-resort model in the broader Southeast coastal corridor.
• Sea Pines Resort (Hilton Head): Hilton Head Island destination resort with championship golf, beach club, marina, and inn. Comparable multi-amenity coastal resort anchored on a barrier island.

Broad incumbents

• The Broadmoor (Colorado Springs): Iconic large-scale destination resort with golf, tennis, spa, convention facilities, and historic grandeur. Comparable on diversified amenity, convention/event business, and heritage positioning, though inland rather than coastal.

Emerging players

• Busch Gardens Williamsburg / SeaWorld Parks: Major U.S. theme park operator with admission-based attractions, water park, marine animal exhibits (turtle/aquatic programming), and event venues. Comparable on paid attraction, water park, and conservation/education programming rather than lodging model.

Others

• Georgia State Parks / REI Co-op Adventures: Adjacent public-sector outdoor recreation and camping operators. Relevant on state park governance model, campground operations, and trail-based recreation rather than resort lodging.
• ASM Global (convention venue management peer): Convention center management partner for Jekyll Island and a global operator of venue/event facilities. Comparable on convention operations expertise, AV/F&B partnerships, and event sales capability.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/jekyllisland
• Instagraminstagram.com/jekyll_island
• Xx.com/jekyll_island
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jekyll-island-authority

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Jekyll Island Company