Sometimes, I need a quick getaway from Atlanta to appreciate all the state of Georgia offers. After visiting the Okefenokee Swamp, we drove over to spend the night at Tybee Island along the coast.
To be honest, I hadn’t visited Tybee in over 20 years. As far as Georgia’s barrier islands go, we’ve spent more time at Saint Simon’s Island and neighboring Jekyll Island. Tybee, with a population of 3,000, lies less than 20 miles from Savannah so it’s worth visiting if you find yourself in the area.
Tybee Island History
This small barrier island, only 5.2 miles in total, has a long history. The Native American Euchee Indians, which inhabited the land for centuries called it Tybee, which translates to “salt.” In 1520, Spain laid claim to the island until England gained control in 1733.
Recognizing the importance of the island’s location at the mouth of the Savannah River, General James Oglethorpe built a lighthouse in 1736. Later, the US government spent almost one million dollars and 18 years to erect Fort Pulaski in 1847. Considered invincible, the fort fell to Union troops who used rifled artillery (a recent innovation) to penetrate the seven-foot thick walls on April 11, 1862. After the Civil War, Fort Screvin protected the area from 1897 through World War II with six concrete gun batteries.
The Beach
Beachgoers from Savannah started visiting Tybee in the 1870s and gave it the nickname Savannah’s Beach. However, tourism soared after the completion of the railroad in 1887. The Central of Georgia Railway also constructed the Tybrisa Pavilion in 1891 – complete with a dance floor, bathhouse, bowling alley, and restaurant! Hotels such as the Ocean House and Hotel Tybee, as well as summer cottages, soon emerged.
The automobile and US 80 ushered in Tybee’s golden age in the 1920s. Tybrisa’s dance floor boasted the popular Big Bands of the day, including Tommy Dorsey. Clubs, restaurants, hotels, and boarding houses continued to flourish. An amusement park provided a Ferris wheel, rides, concessions, and arcade games for entertainment.
Year-round residents also increased, prompting the need for the Savannah Beach Town Hall and Auditorium in 1939 and a public school in 1943. By the end of the 1950s, the commercial area near the south end boasted a drug store and two small department stores.
Over the years, changes occurred on the island. Unfortunately, a fire consumed the Tybrisa Pier and Pavilion in 1967. It took almost 30 years, but the town finally rebuilt the pier and an octagonal-shaped pavilion in preparation for the yachting events for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. Several defunct hotels, such as the Hotel Tybee and DeSoto Beach Hotel made a comeback during this same period.
One of the charms of Tybee is its small size. You won’t find tall hotels or lavish over-the-top homes here. Instead, Tybee exudes a laid-back, old-style beach hearkening to a simpler time.
Tybee Lighthouse
The 145-foot-tall lighthouse is the island’s most recognizable landmark. The original 1736 and 1742 structures suffered irreparable damage from the ocean’s surf. However, the present-day lighthouse, completed in 1773, stands strong.
The previous towers didn’t feature a light source at night. The current lighthouse was originally illuminated with candles in 1791, followed by oil lamps, and later a Fresnel lens. After the Battle of Fort Pulaski, Confederate soldiers removed the lens and started a fire to hinder the Union army. Fortunately, the first 60 feet of the lighthouse remained intact, so workers only needed to rebuild the top section. In 1972, automation took over for the lightkeeper and it still functions today.
In Conclusion
Tybee is small enough that you can explore it in a couple of hours. But it is also so beautiful you can spend several days relaxing and taking in nature and wildlife.
You can climb to the top of the Tybee Island Light Station and see relics from the amusement park at the Tybee Island Museum, located in one of the batteries at Fort Screven. At Fort Pulaski National Monument, watch a 20-minute film and walk around ten points of interest including the fort and cemetery. For more information about Tybee Island, click on the visitor center website here.