The Beach Pavilion

The Beach Pavilion at St. Andrews Beach opened on September 25, 1955, when it became the first public beach in Georgia to welcome African Americans. The opening was marked by a motorcade, a dedication ceremony, and music by the Risley High School Band. During segregation, the pavilion was known as the Colored Beach House and originally included dressing rooms, a concession stand, and a covered picnic area. A man known as Jelly ran the food stand, selling hot dogs and wrapped sandwiches, while soft drinks cost five cents. African Americans gathered there to listen to music, picnic, hold parties, and dance to the jukebox, making it an important gathering place for the black community until integration in 1964 made the segregated space unnecessary. In 2016, the pavilion was restored, and preservation efforts have helped continue the legacy of St. Andrews Beach alongside modern recreational facilities on Jekyll Island. Jim Bacote later remembered the pavilion as a coming-of-age place where young people danced to songs like Little Richard's Lucille and Long Tall Sally and to Al Brown's The Madison, while he called out dance steps such as Two up, two back.

Jekyll Island, Georgia · United States