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The Georgia Sea Turtle Center
The Center will restore and occupy the century-old power plant building located in the Jekyll Island Club National Historic Landmark District.
Originally built in 1903 to house the generator for the Jekyll Island Club, the power plant is one of five buildings within the National Historic Landmark District not yet renovated for active use.
Jekyll Island has more than 1,000,000 visitors each year. The Center will be open to the public at no charge.
- The Primary Exhibit Area will chronicle the history of sea turtles from the “Age of Dinosaurs” to the present. The exhibit will be an interactive area, with video, web-based and standard graphic and text presentations plus hands-on activities. From the primary exhibit area visitors will flow to a window allowing them to view activity in the rehabilitation tanks
- The Assembly Area is an open area for gathering groups to view an orientation video highlighting the story of sea turtles and the mission of the Jekyll Island Sea Turtle Center. Nightly ‘turtle walks’ will depart from this area during the June-August nesting season. Currently more than 2,700 people engage in these educational walks on the beaches of Jekyll each year. The new facility will allow approximately 7,000 participants.
- The Retail Area will encompass the entrance to the facility, the Information Center, public restrooms, and gift shop.
- Special Access will be available to the public through paid guided tours with Turtle Center staff. The goal is to provide an expanded educational opportunity with a more personal and detailed approach.
- The Restricted Access Area will contain the veterinary clinic, ICU tanks and kitchen. There is no visitor access to these areas except by live video feeds into the Primary Exhibit Area. Dr. Terry Norton of St. Catherine's Island Wildlife Center will provide the veterinary care for the turtles at the Center and develop research and education programs. Dr. Norton is internationally renowned for his work with endangered and threatened sea turtles.
Total Preliminary Estimate $2,600,000
The Jekyll Island Foundation has secured more than $2 million in commitments, which includes a matching grant of $750,000 from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. With approximately $600,000 left to complete the final phase of construction and a target date of June 30, 2006 to raise the remaining funds, each and every commitment makes a difference.
Our generous supporters for this project include:
Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, Georgia State Legislature for Historic District improvements, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Turner Foundation, Overhills Foundation, Savannah Presbytery M.K. Pentecost Ecology Fund, T.E.R.N., the Georgia Ports Authority, A.G.L Resources, the Lanier-Goodman Foundation, the Kendeda Fund, Georgia Power Foundation, St. Catherine's Island Foundation, Tauck Foundation, Thomas Guy Woolford Charitable Trust, and Wallenius Wilhelmsen
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