Oil spill has vacationers looking to southeast Georgia and northeast Florida as alternatives to Gulf    June 6, 1:49

Eagle Island Lodge is one of the great retreats in the Southeast. Eagle Island.  Andy Hill, owner of Eagle Island, a 10-acre private island off the southeast Georgia coast, recently received this email from a prospective guest:

“We are looking for an ocean front location for our vacation. We are moving our vacation from Florida, due to the oil spill, where we had a condo rented on the beach. What would be the total cost for our stay? We are looking for a deal as we have lost money to our other rental in Florida.’’

As more oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster off the Louisiana coast continues to wash up on the white sand beaches of the Gulf coast, such inquiries to resorts and hotels and the east coasts southern Georgia and northeast Florida are becoming commonplace.


“Our inquiries have almost doubled since May 15, said Hill, whose Eagle Island, 20 miles north of St. Simon’s Island, Ga., is one of the southeast U.S.’s great wildlife and nature retreats. “I definitely think (the spill) is having an impact of people’s decision to look at the east coast.’’

Likewise at the King and Prince Resort on St. Simon’s Island, which this year is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

‘We’ve booked about 80 room nights from people who had reservations in the Gulf area,’’ said Bud St. Pierre, director of sales and marketing for the King and Prince. “And we’re seeing a trend toward much longer stays than any other summer. I think that might have something to do with a lot of the accommodations along the Gulf being condos. People are used to staying Saturday to Saturday.’’

About two hours south, at the historic Casa Marina Hotel and Restaurant in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., general manager Mark Vandeloo said he has had several inquiries from people looking for an alternative to the Gulf.

“People are kind of in a wait and see stage now,’’ Vandeloo said. “They’re calling to feel us out. It’s a travesty what has taken place over there but it might give some more publicity on this side of the state.’’

www.privateislandsofgeorgia.com

www.kingandprince.com

www.casamarinahotel.com