King And Prince Beach And Golf Resort: St. Simons Island, GA

A hotel with history

The King and Prince began as a dance club in 1935, but six years later, on July 2, 1941, the primary oceanfront building opened as a hotel and became known as King and Prince Hotel. That, however, was a mere five months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The King and Prince was used by the United States military during World War II as a navy facility for training and keeping watch over the coast. By 1947, it was a resort once again, and underwent renovations and expansions in 1972, 1983 and 2003. During those years, it became a member of the Historic Hotels of America and was later added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Between 2010-2013, the common areas were greatly enhanced, and an upscale restaurant was added. The restaurant, ECHO, acknowledges in both its name and its decor the hotel’s place in naval history. This location was one of the first to use radar to track the position of German boats who sailed not far from the hotel’s shoreline attempting to find a place to invade.

Perfectly situated for sunrise and the changing tides

As the only oceanfront resort on St. Simons Island, it is uniquely positioned to observe two natural spectacles – colorful sunrises and the ebb and flow of the tides of the Atlantic. In this particular spot, tides change four times a day, with two high tides and two low tides. Many beachcombers enjoy finding shell treasures during low tides because they can walk a great distance out into the shallow waters and sandbars. The long stretch of creamy white sand provides a perfect place for early morning exercise or building sandcastles with grandchildren.

Accommodations of many sizes and shapes

While there are only about 200 rooms in this resort, the wide variety of lodging options is unique. There are plenty of elegant hotel rooms, ranging from standard to resort-view, partial ocean-view and oceanfront. In the Oleander Building, all rooms have a balcony, and in the Historic Main Building there are both oceanfront and resort-view rooms and cabanas. The Oglethorpe Building offers choices for budget-minded travelers and groups.

On both the north and the south ends of the resort, two and three-bedroom oceanfront and partial ocean-view villas are offered. These have full kitchens, walk-out balconies, and washers and dryers. A perfect choice for families or guests staying for extended periods.

Unique to the King and Prince are seven guest houses available to rent. These range from one to five bedrooms in size and are individually decorated and furnished. Guests in these homes have access to all the resort amenities, including the resort pools, tennis courts, exercise room and room service.

A pet-welcoming resort

Some hotels are merely pet-tolerant. King and Prince Resort goes way beyond to be a pet-welcoming resort. In this case, however, the word “pet” is limited to dogs that weigh 50 pounds or less. No cats, birds or exotics are allowed. Accommodations for guests with dogs are available in two of the guest houses and in the ground floor rooms of the Oleander Building. Full guidelines are on the resort website. Upon arrival your dog will receive a cozy mat for sleeping, a personal water bowl, a bandanna and 2 organic treats. As the owner, you will be given a roll of small plastic bags for collecting your dog’s waste.

Incomparable cuisine

Chef de Cuisine James Flack and his well-trained staff at ECHO consistently bring excellent meals and beverages to diners in their restaurant. Ingredients are locally sourced and expertly prepared. The breakfast, lunch, dinner and beverage menus change to reflect seasonal availability of fruits, vegetables and fresh seafood. Wild Georgia shrimp are not to be missed, and Chef Flack’s signature shrimp and grits is an island favorite. Each plate is a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds. Handcrafted cocktails and microbrews may be ordered, and there are even 27 craft canned beers waiting around the pool deck.

Play a round of golf or get a massage

The marshes of Georgia’s coastal ecosystem outline the back nine holes of the King and Prince Golf Course, and the entire course spans lakes, lagoons and creeks. Golfers will enjoy the great practice facilities as well as the friendly staff of the clubhouse.

The Royal Treatment Cottage employs a team of licensed massage therapists. They offer Swedish, aromatherapy, reflexology, sport-specific, and side by side massages for couples. Robes, sandals, totes and complimentary bottled water are provided for clients who take advantage of these services.