Cumberland Island

Going to Cumberland Island has been a desire of ours for over a year.   The lore of wild horses, old mansions and beaches right in our Georgia backyard was too much to pass up.   We had to wait for a weekend where Randy did not work and we had a chance to plan ahead for our day adventure.

The ferry ride over was a highlight with the nice cool breeze and scenery.

Sabrina loved sitting up top.

On the road to the ruins during a walking tour.

In the distance Dungenous Ruins.   This mansion was built by Thomas Carnegie and his wife Lucy in 1884.   

At the height of activity, this mansion hosted senators and government officials who ran in the circles of the Carnegie Family.

This show the front drop off loop where carriages would have stopped at the step to unload the passengers.

Our guide was giving us advice regarding the wild horses.   These were used to people but should not be approached as they were wild animals.   Two stallions actually had a sparring match in front of us while we were looking at the mansion.

Grazing peacefully.

The fountain on the grounds would have been the center of the garden parties.

The ruins of the old rec house.   When the family went into financial crisis, many of the maintenance on outer buildings and then eventually the mansion became the norm.

The Boardwalk to the beach.

Sandy fun!

Dad and daughter much needed time.   These two love to wade in the ocean together.

The great oaks lined the road.

Someone wanted to climb them.

Runs of outer buildings.

Picnic with ruins in the background.

The fountain.

This vantage point overlooked the water.   It was here that a poacher was shot in the leg by the housekeeper.   Soon after the mansion was torched by arson and it believed the brothers of the shot poacher were the arsonists. 

The back stairway to the mansion.

The back stairway.

Back at the ferry dock for the return trip.

The ranger station where Sabrina earned her Junior Ranger Badge!

While waiting, horses came close to graze.

Looking up shore for the ferry.

Back on mainland, the newest Junior Ranger modeling her badge.