Cumberland Island Inns

Dungeness on Cumberland Island, Georgia, is a ruined mansion that is part of a historic district that was the home of several families significant in American history. James Oglethorpe first built on Cumberland Island in 1736, building a hunting lodge that he named Dungeness. Oglethorpe named the place after Dungeness, in England. The next Dungeness was the legacy of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene, who had acquired 11,000 acres of island land in exchange for a bad debt. His widow built a four-story tabby mansion in 1803, over a Timucuan shell mound. During the War of 1812 the island was occupied by the British, who used the house as a headquarters.
In 1818 Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee, a dashing cavalry commander during the Revolutionary War and father of Robert E. Lee, stayed at the house until his death on March 25, 1818, cared for by Greene's daughter Louisa, and was laid to rest in nearby cemetery with full military honors provided by an American fleet stationed at St. Marys, Georgia. The house was abandoned during the U.S. Civil War and burned in 1866.
In the 1880s the property was purchased by Thomas M. Carnegie, brother of Andrew Carnegie, who began to build a new mansion on the site. The 59-room Queen Anne style mansion and grounds were completed after Carnegie's death in 1886. His wife Lucy continued to live at Dungeness and built other estates for her children, including Greyfield for Margaret Carnegie, Plum Orchard for George Lauder Carnegie, and Stafford Plantation. By this time, the Carnegies owned 90% of the island.
The Carnegies moved out of Dungeness in 1925. In 1959 the Dungeness mansion was destroyed by fire, alleged to be arson. The ruins are today preserved by the National Park Service as part of Cumberland Island National Seashore. They were acquired by the Park Service in 1972.

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Our top choices for Cumberland Island inns

Village Inn and Pub - Adults Only

Downtown St. Simons Island

Richard Stanley

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Top Cumberland Island Hotel Reviews

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Amelia Island

8/10 Good

"The rooms are okay. A bit tired. Our room carried an odor that said pets have stayed there before... That being said the staff was very helpful and the location is wonderful. Fort clinch state Park (directly across the street) is beautiful and we spent two full days there (2A &4kids). There is a great playground not far from the hotel and great eating places. We loved Tastys (burgers) and Arte pizza!! "

Hampton Inn & Suites Jekyll Island

10/10 Excellent

"Stayed for 2 nights, overall great hotel! They are pet friendly so you may hear a random dog every now and then, no biggie. We had lunch at the bar… not the best. They couldn’t get the cheese melted for my nachos so I picked a bbq sandwich instead… um, it wasn’t good. The meat was really loaded down with big pieces of chewy fat. My husband’s buffalo chicken strips were good though! They’re a bar, so the only nonalcoholic drink options were Coke and Diet Coke, that was fine. The staff are all very friendly and helpful. The room was really clean and had extras of things we needed. We didn’t get a chance to use the pool or hot tub this stay but have stayed here previously and they were great! "

The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

8/10 Good

"Excellent staff. Attentive to detail. Hotel is not a Ritz Carlton. Missing all out service and a facilities you pay for. Lobby bar closed until 3pm, gourmet restaurant closed Sunday and monday. No service outside areas. Not a Ritz when you have to buy a bottle of wine and plastic cups to enjoy overlooking the ocean."

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