Jekyll Island Club Hotel, Jekyll Island, Georgia

Ghosts of the Gilded Age: The Haunted History of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel

Rising gracefully from the moss-draped oaks of Georgia’s barrier coast, the Jekyll Island Club Hotel feels frozen in time. With its wide verandas, ornate gables, and hushed corridors, the former private retreat of America’s wealthiest families carries an undeniable air of mystery. While the hotel today offers refined Southern luxury, many believe that echoes of its past residents—some unwilling to leave—still linger within its walls.

A Retreat for the Rich and Powerful

The Jekyll Island Club was founded in the late 1800s as an exclusive winter resort for America’s elite. Industrialists, financiers, and political influencers gathered here to escape northern winters, conducting business by day and indulging in lavish dinners and grand parties by night. The clubhouse and surrounding cottages reflected immense wealth and privilege, a self-contained world far removed from ordinary life.

By the mid-20th century, the club closed, and the once-glorious buildings fell silent. Years of abandonment followed before restoration efforts returned the property to its former elegance. Yet many believe the decades of laughter, ambition, secrecy, and sudden loss left behind more than architectural memories.

The Spirits Said to Remain

The Founder Who Never Left

One of the most enduring legends involves General Lloyd Aspinwall, a founding member who died before the clubhouse officially opened. Deeply involved in the planning and construction of the resort, Aspinwall never saw the club come to life.

Guests and staff have reported sightings of a dignified man strolling the veranda at dusk, hands clasped behind his back as though inspecting his life’s work. Some claim his presence is strongest near the glass-enclosed veranda room that now bears his name, particularly in the quiet moments between day and night.

The Railroad Baron’s Morning Ritual

Another popular story centers on Samuel Spencer, a prominent railroad executive known for his disciplined routine. During his stays at the club, Spencer allegedly began each morning with coffee and the newspaper.

After his death in a tragic train accident, guests occupying his former room began reporting strange occurrences. Newspapers appear folded or disturbed, coffee cups are found unexpectedly filled, and an unmistakable sense of someone else sharing the room is often described. Whether habit or haunting, the spirit of routine seems to persist.

The Phantom Bellhop

Not all spirits at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel inspire fear. One of the most charming tales involves a bellhop in early 20th-century uniform who reportedly appears on the second floor.

Guests—particularly grooms preparing for weddings—have described knocks at their doors, only to find freshly pressed suits waiting outside with no staff member in sight. The figure is said to vanish before thanks can be given, leaving behind perfectly tailored hospitality from another era.

Lingering Smoke and Shadowy Figures

Other stories are subtler but no less unsettling. Some guests have reported the smell of cigar smoke in non-smoking rooms, believed to belong to powerful financiers who once frequented the island. Others describe hearing soft footsteps in empty hallways or catching glimpses of a woman in period dress gliding through corridors late at night.

Staff members have also spoken of lights turning on by themselves, doors opening without explanation, and the feeling of being watched when no one else is present.

Why the Stories Endure

What makes the Jekyll Island Club Hotel especially rich in ghost lore is not a single tragedy, but the sheer weight of its history. Generations of powerful individuals gathered here, made world-changing decisions, and lived lives of excess and secrecy. When such a place is abandoned and later revived, it’s easy to believe something of that intensity remains.

The hotel’s quiet evenings, creaking floors, and candlelit ambiance provide the perfect setting for imagination—or something more.

A Stay Where History Feels Alive

Today, visitors to the Jekyll Island Club Hotel come for many reasons: elegant accommodations, coastal beauty, and historic charm. Yet for those sensitive to atmosphere, the experience can feel like stepping into another time entirely.

Whether you believe in ghosts or simply enjoy the thrill of a good story, the haunted legends of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel add an unforgettable layer to an already remarkable destination. As night falls and the verandas empty, one can’t help but wonder—who else might still be wandering the halls?