On Jekyll Island, Georgia, a major conservation initiative is underway to transform the former Oleander Golf Course into a thriving coastal ecosystem. Slated to open in spring 2027, the Wildlife Corridor will restore more than 100 acres of previously maintained golf acreage, reconnect fragmented habitats and improve safe passage for wildlife across the island—while introducing new ways for visitors of all abilities to experience coastal Georgia’s natural environment.
At the forefront of this effort is Yank Moore, Director of Conservation for the Jekyll Island Authority (JIA), whose work centers on an increasingly important challenge for tourism destinations: how to balance recreation, development and public access with the long-term protection of natural resources.
Green Lodging News recently interviewed Moore about the Wildlife Corridor project:
When was the Oleander Golf Course closed? Was it a 9-hole? 18-hole?
The Oleander Golf Course was an 18-hole course that closed in fall 2024 as part of the Jekyll Island Authority’s Golf Improvement Plan. Nine holes of the former Oleander course were incorporated into the redesigned Great Dunes Golf Course, while the remaining property was designated for habitat restoration and the creation of the Jekyll Island Wildlife Corridor.
Explain how the golf course is being transformed into a Wildlife Corridor? How is the green space being transformed? The sand traps? What is being planted? Will it be easy to tell if it was once a golf course?
The project will transform portions of the former Oleander Golf Course into a diverse landscape of native coastal habitats. Areas once maintained as fairways and greens are being restored to maritime grasslands, longleaf pine savanna, wetlands, and other habitats that support our native wildlife.
Restoration efforts include replacing maintained turfgrass with native vegetation, including wiregrass, bluestems, muhly grass, and a variety of native wildflowers. These plantings will provide important food sources, shelter, and breeding habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife.
While the former tee boxes and fairways are still recognizable today, the landscape will continue to evolve as native vegetation becomes established. Over time, the manicured appearance of the golf course will give way to a more natural coastal landscape. However, preserving the property’s history is also an important part of the project. Planned art installations, including metal golf flags marking a few fairways, will commemorate the land’s previous use.
What steps are being taken to reconnect fragmented habitat?
One of the main goals of the Wildlife Corridor is to reconnect habitats that have been separated by development over time. By restoring the former golf course to native grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands, we’re creating a more connected landscape where wildlife can move more freely throughout the island. This gives animals better access to food, water, shelter, and breeding areas without having to navigate as many developed spaces.
What animal life is present in the Corridor? What animal/bird life do you expect the Corridor to attract? Give me a few examples.
The Wildlife Corridor is already home to a variety of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, reptiles, amphibians, and numerous bird species. As native habitats become more established, we expect the area to support an even greater diversity of wildlife.
The restored grasslands will be especially beneficial for birds like the southeastern American kestrel, loggerhead shrike, and savannah sparrow, which rely on open habitats for feeding and nesting. The wetlands and wooded areas will also provide valuable habitat for species like wood ducks, eastern box turtles, and a variety of frogs and pollinators.
Ultimately, our goal is to create a healthy, diverse ecosystem that supports both the wildlife already living on Jekyll Island and species that will benefit from the restored habitat.
How will the Corridor be safer for wildlife?
As I mentioned earlier, reconnecting fragmented habitats will allow wildlife to move more freely throughout the island without having to navigate as many developed areas or roadways.
What kind of access will the public have once this is completed—newly created trails, use of existing paths, etc.?
The Wildlife Corridor will be open for the public to explore, with former golf cart paths repurposed as walking trails throughout the property. Visitors will also be able to enjoy elevated wildlife viewing platforms overlooking the ponds, along with interpretive signage that highlights the area’s habitats, wildlife, and restoration efforts. We’re also committed to making the corridor accessible to as many visitors as possible, with accessibility being an important consideration in the design of trails, viewing areas, and educational features.
Were there any attempts/efforts to develop the golf course land differently? For housing?
Conservation is central to how Jekyll Island is managed. As a state park, the island operates under strict development limitations established by Georgia law, which requires that at least 65 percent of the island remain undeveloped. This ensures that protecting Jekyll’s natural environment remains a priority as the island evolves.
Ultimately, our Golf Improvement Plan prioritized enhancing the island’s golf experience while returning portions of the former Oleander Golf Course to natural habitat. The Wildlife Corridor is another example of our commitment to balancing recreation, responsible development, and conservation.
In what ways will the Corridor help maintain a balance between nature and tourism growth?
Balancing conservation and tourism is at the heart of how we manage the island. The Wildlife Corridor is a great example of how the two can work together. By restoring former golf course land to native habitat, we’re creating more space for wildlife to thrive while also giving visitors new opportunities to connect with nature. It’s an opportunity to enhance the visitor experience without introducing additional development.
Explain a bit about the sea turtle population and what steps are being taken to ensure its sustainability?
Jekyll Island’s beaches provide important nesting habitat for sea turtles, particularly loggerheads, which are the most common species nesting along Georgia’s coast. Each summer, our team monitors nesting activity, protects nests, and conducts research to better understand and support the population. We also work to minimize threats such as artificial beachfront lighting and human disturbance.
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center plays an important role in these efforts through rehabilitation, research, and public education.
Give me an example of a sea turtle lighting ordinance and how it works?
Jekyll has a beach lighting ordinance designed to protect nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings. Artificial lighting can disorient hatchlings, which naturally rely on the brighter horizon over the ocean to find their way to the water. Lights from buildings, streets, and other developed areas can instead draw them inland.
To reduce this risk, beachfront lighting must follow turtle-friendly standards, including measures such as shielding fixtures, directing light downward, and minimizing light visible from the beach. These requirements help ensure that necessary lighting doesn’t interfere with sea turtles during nesting season.
What best practices/lessons—even just a few—have you learned that others looking to redevelop golf course space can learn from?
It’s important to recognize that restoration takes time. Converting a golf course into a healthy, functioning ecosystem doesn’t happen overnight. It requires thoughtful planning, collaboration with partners, and ongoing management as the landscape evolves. We also always find value in incorporating public access and education into the process, giving visitors an opportunity to experience the restoration firsthand and better understand why it matters.
Is the Wildlife Corridor the first of its kind to be developed in Georgia?
While other former golf courses in Georgia have been converted into conservation areas, Jekyll Island’s Wildlife Corridor stands out for its scale, ecological goals, and location on a barrier island. The project is designed not only to restore acreage of native coastal habitat, but also to reconnect natural areas across the island and provide new opportunities for public access and environmental education. It’s a unique approach to habitat restoration and one we hope can serve as a model for similar projects elsewhere.
Explain how the water on the course is being protected/transformed?
The former golf course’s drainage infrastructure has been adapted to help establish freshwater wetland habitat, providing valuable resources for birds, amphibians, and other wildlife.
Visitors will soon be able to experience the area via four elevated wildlife viewing platforms overlooking Amphitheater Pond and the tidal Oleander Pond?
Yes.
