Save Jekyll Island Facebook Comments
Good news! The Westin hotel has stated that, for the 2016 spring/summer season, it will not be resuming on-the beach, motorized vehicular delivery of beach services to its customers. Instead, those services will be transported by hand from the hotel to the beach. The hotel did not indicate why this decision was made or why it apparently applies to this year only. Hopefully, the hotel's owners took notice of the nearly 1,200 beach driving survey responses from Jekyll visitors and residents that IPJI shared with the Westin's general manager and owners. Ninety-six percent of the survey's participants said "no" to commercial traffic being allowed on Jekyll's beach. Like 149Melissa Tresidder, Dan Simpson and 147 others 11 shares Comments
Sally Cornell Excellent decision! Good for the Westin! Unlike · Reply · 3 · March 23 at 11:29am
Laura Dikovsky Smith Needed this good news today! Like · Reply · 2 · March 23 at 11:42am
Lois Ryan Ruhnke Thanks Mindy for all your hard work on this! Unlike · Reply · 4 · March 23 at 11:49am
Laura Dikovsky Smith Yes, thank you so much Mindy & David!!! Unlike · Reply · 3 · March 23 at 1:03pm · Edited
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Paula Odom Sparrow YES!!!!! Like · Reply · 1 · March 23 at 11:54am
Michael Jaski Because they are hoping the winds will change next year...or they realized that insisting on the cart would cost them business Like · Reply · 1 · March 23 at 12:18pm
Melissa Stanley Dobbins Welcomed good news! Like · Reply · 1 · March 23 at 12:26pm
Margery Rubin Like · Reply · March 23 at 12:49pm
Donna Emmons LaFollette Wonderful news Like · Reply · March 23 at 1:02pm
Andy Paulk I need to go back and see the arguments for and against this .. I am obviously missing a key component of understanding .. Like · Reply · March 23 at 1:08pm
Mindy Egan Andy Paulk - For summary of public opinion on the beach driving issue, go to http://www.savejekyllisland.org/beach_survey_-_summary_of.... If you need more info, let me know. Like · Reply · March 23 at 3:23pm Andy Paulk Thank you very much .. Like · Reply · March 23 at 3:25pm
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Mike Bowden Now let's go after the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and the JIA trucks since they are the primary producers of those unsightly tire tracks on the beach! Like · Reply · 2 · March 23 at 2:04pm
Ray Emerson Mike Bowden are you aware of the role the Sea Turtle Center plays on the beach? Like · Reply · 2 · March 23 at 6:08pm
Mike Bowden The bumper sticker says "Don't tread on Jekyll's beach" But that's what the GSTC does! Like · Reply · March 23 at 9:30pm View more replies
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Andy Paulk My Family has owned a house on Jekyll Island since 1977.. I have seen it morph into what it is today .. I have a question... Is the only reason for stop driving on the beach the tire tracks?.. Are there environmental issues?.. Sorry to come in late on this issue but I have an uneducated opinion and I want to make sure I understand.. Like · Reply · 1 · March 23 at 2:17pm
Mindy Egan Andy Paulk For info relevant to your question, check out the letters of protest sent to the JIA/DNR/Westin by various civic and environmental organizations at http://www.savejekyllisland.org/BeachServicesLetters.html. The most often cited objections to the Westin's beach driving venture can be found at http://www.savejekyllisland.org/beach_survey_-_summary_of... Like · Reply · Yesterday at 11:52am · Edited
Write a reply... Sally Cornell For me it is not the tire tracks. It is the change in the peaceful and clean quality of the beach when vehicles from all the establishments and then beach vendors start traversing the beach. The JIA cannot let just the westin have this privilege. If o...See More Like · Reply · 8 · March 23 at 3:24pm
Mindy Egan Sally Cornell - Very well said! Many of the nearly 1,2000 people who participated in IPJI's survey about the Westin's beach driving venture had objections similar to yours. The bottom line is rental beach services are all well and fine; driving back and forth on the beach daily for nearly half a mile to deliver them is not. Like · Reply · 2 · March 23 at 3:32pm
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Melissa Tresidder Good decision! Like · Reply · 1 · March 23 at 3:36pm
Linda McCreary Ford Good! Like · Reply · 1 · March 23 at 3:40pm
Diane J. Shearer It's not about tire tracks. It's about the quality of beach time for everyone on this public beach, not just for those willing to pay to lounge. Of course, there is necessary litter pickup and turtle patrols, but those are minimal. A 4-wheeler pulling a stacked load of chairs/umbrellas is a different critter. Like · Reply · 1 · March 23 at 4:10pm
Mindy Egan Well said! IPJI has, of course, said all along that beach driving by sea turtle patrol vehicles along with emergency and sanitation vehicles is essential. Commercial traffic is not. Like · Reply · Yesterday at 11:55am
Write a reply... David Kyler This decision is encouraging - we'd like to believe that our 'eternal vigilance' and sheer persistence in objecting to frivolous beach driving has had something to do with the Westin dropping the reckless practice. At the Center for a Sustainable Coast...See More Like · Reply · 5 · March 23 at 4:13pm
Melia Ann Whitley Link please! Like · Reply · March 23 at 4:27pm
Mindy Egan Melia Ann Whitley Here's the link to the CSC's Facebook paged -- https://www.facebook.com/search/top/... Like · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 11:57am
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Andy Paulk Just out of curiosity.. How many of you have a home on the Island ? Like · Reply · 3 · March 23 at 4:24pm
Karen Breunig Not this family! But we love visiting!!' Like · Reply · 1 · March 23 at 5:11pm
Mindy Egan Andy Paulk - Of the 1,280 people who participated in IPJI's beach driving survey, 88 are Jekyll residents. Visitors from a total of 18 states and Canada account for the rest. Like · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 11:59am View more replies
Write a reply... Melia Ann Whitley Jekyll Island is one of the last beaches that are peaceful, and allowed to be just what it is. A beautiful beach without all the commercialism. The original members of the Jekyll Island Club established the island to get away from the busyness of life and cities. No reason for that to change by making this beautiful place of nature a tourist trap. For this year and all of the years to come. Unlike · Reply · 9 · March 23 at 4:26pm
Andy Paulk The tourist trap decision was made way back before they tore down the convention center. Like · Reply · 2 · March 23 at 4:27pm
Andy Paulk Once the ball starts it is hard to stop.. and it will not stop.. the next generation will move it forward .. We will enjoy it and pass on through .. Thank you all for your comments .. I appreciate it .. Like · Reply · 2 · March 23 at 4:32pm
Peggy Crowe That's why we have been fighting tooth and nail for years to keep it to a dull roar. Leaders like Mindy Egan and David have organized our collective voices to make sure that those who can sway those choices know how we feel. Considering the original horrific rape and pillage stance I feel that we have come miles. Thanks to the multitudes of Jekyll lovers who have made our voices heard. Like · Reply · 1 hr
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Marla Ratliff THIS IS AWESOME!!!! Like · Reply · 2 · March 23 at 4:56pm
Karen Breunig Thanks Westin for listening to the people!!! Really, we want to keep Jekyll free of human encroachment ! That's why we visit that island because of its natural beauty!! (We're from nc, too! So we do the drive for that special place!!) Unlike · Reply · 4 · March 23 at 5:11pm
Terri Reynolds WONDERFUL Unlike · Reply · 2 · March 23 at 5:12pm Jean Sommerville I am so pleased to read about this decision! I'm hopeful that this means Westin listened to those who love Jekyll Island's beauty, and now understand the value of keeping the beach peaceful, quiet, and safe. Great news! Unlike · Reply · 4 · March 23 at 5:15pm
Dale Wilson I applaud the Westin on this decision! Like · Reply · 2 · March 23 at 5:16pm
Terri O'Reilly Hehn Thank you Westin Hotel - you made my day! Like · Reply · 2 · March 23 at 5:22pm
Ellen Smith Thank you, Westin, for keeping the beach peaceful in 2016, and I hope you continue the policy in 2017 and beyond! Like · Reply · 2 · March 23 at 5:44pm
Bill LaFollette On behalf of a three generation family from Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Texas that loves Jekyll thank you for deciding to forego any further effort to use motorized vehicles on the beach. You are a good steward on this issue and we fervently hope you will be in all areas in the future. We will look favorably on being Westin guests on future visits. Like · Reply · 6 · March 23 at 6:45pm
Claire Savage This is awesome news! Thanks for making this wise choice Westin! Like · Reply · 3 · March 23 at 6:55pm
Ray Emerson Mike Bowden are you aware of the role the Sea Turtle Center plays on the beach? Like · Reply · 1 · March 23 at 7:02pm
Andy Paulk I feel like he just wants a cause to protest.. If not that it would be something else.. Like · Reply · 1 · March 23 at 7:09pm
Ray Emerson Andy Paulk perhaps he hasn't ever visited our island. Like · Reply · March 23 at 7:13pm View more replies Write a reply...
Karen Breunig Love those turtles and their protectors!! Like · Reply · 3 · March 23 at 7:06pm
Brenda Gibson I'm from Ohio but l love Jekyll Island it's peace an beauty is why I come. Me an my children used to come down every year. And wish we still could I will be down in August . This island to me is the next best thing to heaven. Unlike · Reply · 4 · March 23 at 7:54pm
Heather Moll-Dunn Thank you Westin for choosing to be a good neighbor and listening to will of the people who love Jekyll with a passion. I wish you best of luck with your rentals this season so you can see that commercial vehicles are not necessary on the beach and you continue this good decision in perpetuity. Like · Reply · 4 · March 23 at 8:19pm
Karen Breunig Hey we might even stay there now!! Like · Reply · 3 · March 23 at 8:28pm
Jamie Kreger Good news!!! Like · Reply · 1 · March 23 at 8:56pm
Mike Bowden Are you aware of the hypocrisy of condemning the Westin for leaving a 1/2 mile long tread mark on the beach, while the JIA and GSTC leave 7 mile long tread marks on the beach? It is clear that this conflict is NOT about tread marks on the beach, but rather an assault on those who are lawfully investing in the development of the island. Like · Reply · 1 · March 23 at 9:26pm
Ray Emerson Lol!! Like · Reply · March 23 at 9:52pm Bill LaFollette The kind of development that brought the Westin and other high end retailers will destroy the magic of Jekyll in the near future and make a few corporations and developers wealthy. Just look at the rest of the Atlantic seaboard. Like · Reply · 2 · March 23 at 10:25pm View more replies
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Diane Goldstein It's good business Like · Reply · 1 · March 23 at 10:18pm
Widget Bennett Richards Thanks Westin for not driving on the beach Like · Reply · 2 · March 23 at 11:09pm
Travis Johnson Great news!! Like · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 12:30am
James Bell Welcome news. I hope that Westin and the JIA understand that the attraction of Jekyll for tourists like me (from Canada) is precisely its tranquility and preservation of the natural beauty and wildlife of the island - characteristics incompatible with commercial motorized vehicles on its beaches. Unlike · Reply · 6 · Yesterday at 9:23am
Donna Langford Yay! Hope its a permanent decision. Good move Westin! Like · Reply · 2 · Yesterday at 9:54am
Greg Lowery Very thankful for this decision! Like · Reply · 2 · Yesterday at 11:26am
Joy Rayburn Vannerson Thank you, Westin. It's the right thing to do. Like · Reply · 2 · Yesterday at 11:53am Luke Egan The decision speaks highly of Westin management, I applaud their effort. Like · Reply · 3 · 23 hrs
Mindy Egan On the Protect Jekyll and Save Jekyll Facebook pages there is a total of more than 600 "Likes" and 100 comments responsive to the news about the Westin's decision to terminate its beach driving enterprise. Very impressive, and good for Jekyll and the Westin as well! Like · Reply · 3 · 22 hrs
Jeffrey Sokolow Good for Westin. Motorized vehicles do not belong on the beach. Like · Reply · 2 · 20 hrs
Peggy Crowe 2 hrs · West Asheville, NC, United States I am so delighted that the Westin has decided to not only hear the voices of those who love the unique experience that Jekyll offers but now become a part of that community. Well done Westin! LikeShow more reactions Comment Share 2Sally Cornell and Terri O'Reilly Hehn Comments
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Elizabeth Walters March 23 at 4:48pm As full time residents and turtle fans, My husband and I thank the Westin folks very much for their decision to not drive on the beach anymore! LikeShow more reactions Comment Share 53Laura Dikovsky Smith, Karen Breunig and 51 others Comments View 1 more comment
Brenda Gibson Great job Like · Reply · March 23 at 7:31pm
Margery Rubin Great idea. I think everyone should send Westin a Thank You. Like · Reply · Yesterday at 3:53am
Judi Gavalas Thank you,Westin,for NOT driving on the beach !���� Like · Reply · 22 hrs