Cumberland Island, Georgia

Wild Horse Roams Sand Dunes, Foggy Day on Cumberland Island National Seashore
Feral Horse Roams Sand Dunes, Foggy Day on Cumberland Island

Is tranquility the tonic you seek?

There aren’t many places in the world where one can see wild horses grazing along the beach of a preserved barrier island frozen in time. A setting where the crumbling ruins of a Carnegie mansion hint of the grandeur of nineteenth century days past, and a high society life that most of us can only imagine.

Cumberland Island is located in southeast Georgia off the northern tip of Amelia Island. It’s one of the largest barrier islands in a chain of Atlantic coast islands stretching from the Carolinas to northeast Florida.

Riding Bikes on Empty Beach, Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia
Riding Bikes on Empty Beach, Cumberland Island

If you appreciate a natural setting with very few people around, treat yourself to a day on Cumberland Island. Measuring about 17.5 miles long (by half a mile to 3 miles at its widest), public access is limited to only 300 people per day.

Cumberland will have considerable appeal if you’re interested in both a beautiful, natural setting and historic sites. Visitors can expect solitary walks on miles of tranquil, deserted beachfront and so much more in the way of quiet serenity outdoors. While a perfect place for nature lovers and photographers, history buffs will enjoy it, too. Cumberland was a favorite secret getaway of the late John F. Kennedy, Jr. (more about that below).

Cumberland Island National Seashore features expansive windswept dunes and miles of empty beaches and maritime forest. Critter encounters are likely — armadillos, deer, wild turkeys, gopher tortoises, shorebirds and the notorious wild horses. When hiking through the trails on Cumberland, you notice the quiet stillness of the forest, interrupted only by rustling leaves in the breeze or an animal scampering in the underbrush.

Cumberland Island Georgia bike riding trail through wilderness
Cumberland’s Main Sandy Road Cuts Through Wilderness

Picture in your mind for a moment, no stores, no street lights (no paved roads for that matter), and no public transportation. As mentioned above, only 300 people a day are dispersed across this island that’s larger than New York’s Manhattan Island.

Cumberland is nearly uninhabited, with the exception of around 40 islanders (generational landowners — there are a small number of private residences on the island). It’s a wonderful place for bird watchers and other nature observation. The island’s residents include marsh rabbits, alligators, snakes, bobcats, raccoons, feral hogs and transient sea turtles that nest on the beach.

Feast For Eyes & Soul

You may not want to rush back to 21st century society after glimpsing a simpler setting and a natural paradise. It’s easy to dream about what it would be like to live on this island, so tranquil and unspoiled. Not an exaggeration, this Southern sea island is truly a feast for the eyes and soul.

Cumberland Island, Georgia's Gorgeous Sand Dunes, Atlantic Ocean Seashore
Cumberland Island’s Gorgeous Sand Dunes, Atlantic Ocean Seashore

Amazing Dunes

The dune system on the island is vast and inspires awe – primary dunes and rear dunes. Visitors walk along paths to the beach through an interdune meadow. It’s unlikely you’ve ever seen dunes like these anywhere else.

Wild Horses

Cumberland has a population of wild (i.e. feral) horses that roam the island freely. They subsist on the island’s natural bounty such as its marsh grasses and sea oats (about a third of Cumberland is salt marsh). The feral horses seen on Cumberland today reportedly originated from domestic stock released on the island in the early 1900s (not dating back to the Spanish colonial days as previously thought).

Entry Gate, Dungeness Ruins on Cumberland Island, Georgia photo
Entry Gate, Dungeness Ruins, Cumberland Island

Dungeness Ruins

The most frequented site on the island is the ruins of a Carnegie mansion, Dungeness. A visit to the grounds of Dungeness promises a unique look back, as your mind’s eye pictures the grand parties and famous high society families that frequented this home in the late nineteenth century, such as the Vanderbilt’s and Dupont’s. When approaching the island from the water, look carefully and you’ll see chimney stacks of Dungeness extending above the tree canopy.

The original inhabitants of the island were Indians who reportedly occupied the island for over 3,000 years, but Cumberland also had a slave population. During the 1850s, the island’s population peaked at 520 people, “65 were white, 455 were black slaves,” according to a book by Mary Bullard. History buffs will like visiting the small Ice House Museum near the Dungeness dock which displays old photos and the historical facts of the island and its previous inhabitants.

Dungeness Fire

The Carnegie home Dungeness was torched in 1959, a victim of arson. Previously a working plantation owned by the family Nightingale, by the 1840s, the former Dungeness was described as abandoned and going to ruin. The Carnegies actually purchased the property from a General Davis, according to Bullard’s book, in the year 1881, for the sum of $35,000. The Carnegie family built a new Dungeness mansion, starting construction in 1884 at a price reported at around $285,000 (with furnishings), according to Ms. Bullard.

John F. Kennedy, Jr.

It’s no wonder the late John F. Kennedy, Jr. and his late wife, Carolyn Bessette, chose the magnificent natural setting and seclusion of Cumberland Island, GA for their secretive wedding. It took several days for the national media to find out about their trip to the altar, in a tiny, antiquated church on this island. Cumberland reportedly was one of John’s favorite escapes, having visited this island since he was a teenager.

Beauty Abounds

Picnicking, beach combing on miles of deserted beaches, and hiking along paths and sandy roads that cut through the maritime forest of Cumberland Island are just a few things that await visitors. And a peaceful solitude, surrounded by Southern coastal nature. Even the maritime forest, with a variety of oaks, looks windswept and timeless. The natural palmetto is thick, as is the Spanish moss-laden canopy of tremendous old oaks.

But it may not have gone this way, if a real estate developer, Charles Fraser of Hilton Head, owner of a large parcel of Cumberland, hadn’t abandoned his plans to develop the island. He reportedly had purchased land from Carnegie heirs in 1969. His intent was to build houses, apartments, marinas, a golf course, air strip, shopping, a hospital, and more, according to author Mary Bullard. Fraser was unsuccessful in his effort to develop the island, and Cumberland remains in its natural state.

Island residents reportedly banned together with environmental organizations and the Department of the Interior to support the acquisition of Cumberland by the National Park Service. Their actions were a personal sacrifice too, having to sell their property on Cumberland to the National Park Service in order to preserve it. An indication of how dear to the heart Cumberland was to those who knew it best. Furthermore, donations by the Carnegies and funds from supporting foundations helped to win Congressional approval to turn much of Cumberland Island into a protected National Seashore. Rights of land use and occupancy were granted to landowners, but those rights have begun to expire and some properties in more recent years have been turned over to the National Park Service.

Plum Orchard Mansion

Plum Orchard Mansion, Cumberland Island, Georgia
Plum Orchard Mansion, Cumberland Island

About seven miles north of Sea Camp is a 22,000 square foot Carnegie mansion, Plum Orchard, circa 1898, with tours available at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Logistically, with the limited daily ferry times plus the 14-mile round trip excursion by foot or bicycle between the Sea Camp ferry dock and Plum Orchard, it’s not feasible for day trippers. However, those spending more time on the island can plan to visit this remarkable historic home. Note that Plum Orchard is one stop on the Lands & Legacies 5 to 6 hour van tour (more info below).

Ferry Info

The only way to get to Cumberland Island is by boat. The National Park Service ferry departure is located in St. Marys, Georgia (figure 45 minutes to an hour’s drive north from Amelia Island). Note that the NPS requests reservation holders check in an hour before ferry departure. Bicycles can be transported on ferry for $10 fee (but space is very limited).

DIRECTIONS TO FERRY DOCK: For driving to St. Marys, put the Cumberland Island’s visitor center address in GPS or Google Maps: 113 St. Marys Street West, St. Marys, GA 31558.

Advice for parents: Other than the 5-to-6-hour long “Lands and Legacies” van tours, there’s no Cumberland Island transportation once you step foot on the island, so plan for hours of walking around. Those with young children should be aware that an excursion to Cumberland may not be ideal for little ones. Plenty of parents end up carrying children who tire, and it’s not an ideal place to be pushing strollers around. Some may wish to treat themselves to adult quiet time and make arrangements for childcare.

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, pack a lunch, snacks, drinks, sunscreen and bug spray. For daily visitors to the island, there’s no garbage cans for disposal of trash. Anything you carry onto the island must be carried back off. The heat and humidity of the summer is a less “user-friendly” time for some to visit the island (especially those not used to being outside in hot weather for extended times walking around). Early spring, late fall and winter are ideal times for exploring and hiking with cooler temps.

Lands & Legacies Van Tour

The only guided tour with motorized transportation for day trippers is the 5 to 6 hour air conditioned van tour, traversing over some rough unpaved road to the far north end of Cumberland Island. The stops include several historic sites — The Settlement, First African Baptist Church, Cumberland Wharf, the remains of Robert Stafford’s Plantation and the lovely Plum Orchard mansion. For most people, this is the best way to see the more remote north end of the island. 

Cumberland Island Camping

Cumberland Island National Seashore has five areas for camping overnight (with limit of 7 consecutive days). Both “backcountry” camping and the more developed campground, at Sea Camp, are offered.

Greyfield Inn

Ancient Oaks Embrace The Greyfield Inn, Cumberland Island
Ancient Oaks Embrace Greyfield Inn

There’s only one lodging establishment on Cumberland today — the lovely Greyfield Inn. The home was originally built for Lucy and Thomas Carnegie’s daughter, Margaret Ricketson. In 1962, it was opened as The Greyfield Inn by Margaret’s daughter, Lucy R. Ferguson, and her family. The Greyfield Inn’s private ferry, the “Lucy R. Ferguson,” departs from the Fernandina Beach Harbor Marina.

Related Content

Learn more about planning a day trip to Cumberland Island National Seashore, getting there by ferry, 2023 costs for round trip ferry passage, plus park admission fees.

See also large collection of articles about Cumberland Island National Seashore published over the years by Amelia Island Living.