The story of St. Simons Island harkens back to the mid-16th century, when Spanish colonists first attempted to establish Catholic missions along Georgia’s entire coastline. Two missions eventually appeared on St. Simons Island—San Buenaventura de Guadalquini and Santo Domingo de Asao. But the missions proved to be short-lived as the villagers fled south to Florida in order to escape constant raids by renegade pirates. Meanwhile, settlers from Great Britain established the Province of Carolina, whose borders stretched from Cape Fear to the Savannah River. As such, English and Spanish colonials often skirmished over control of Georgia’s coastline, as both countries saw the region as a buffer zone for their respective colonies. At the height of the conflict in the 1730s, General James Edward Oglethorpe founded a town at the mouth of the Savannah River that he called “Savannah.” From Savannah spawned the Province of Georgia, which directly functioned as the defensive cushion for the southern border of British America. General Oglethorpe further enhanced the colony’s role as a bulwark against potential foreign incursions by erecting Fort Frederica on the western coastline of St. Simons Island. Named for the heir to the British throne, Prince Frederick Louis, the citadel served as the main post for the United Kingdom in the southern colonies throughout most of the mid-18th century.

The Spanish threat toward Georgia eventually faded following their defeat at the Battle of Bloody Marsh during the strangely named colonial conflict known as the “War for Jenkins’ Ear.” The fort subsequently declined in its usefulness, save for a brief period during the Seven Years War. By the 1770s, the citadel’s garrison had completely relocated to the mainland, leaving behind only a few merchants who once serviced the location.In the years immediately following the American Revolution, St. Simons Island was largely uninhabited. The few people remaining on the island took to agriculture, growing cotton, rice, and various sustenance crops. As it turned out, cotton flourished within the climate of St. Simons Island. Soon enough, the locals began clearing large swathes of the region’s densely forested areas in order to create massive farms that would explicitly cultivate cotton. (Interestingly, the wood collected from St. Simons Island were used to build warships for the United States Navy, including the famed USS Constitution). Those farms gradually grew into 14 separate plantations, with Pierce Butler’s Hampton Point Plantation becoming the largest. By the dawn of the 19th century, Butler’s estate grew some 800 acres of cotton, as well as nearly 300 acres of rice.

In the wake of the American Civil War, various companies established lumber mills across St. Simons Island. Two New Yorkers named Norman Dodge and Titus G. Meigs opened the very first milling plant, setting off a chain reaction that saw many more appear throughout the area. Architect Charles B. Cluskey then designed a brand-new lighthouse to help facilitate the maritime traffic that was now routinely heading toward St. Simons Island. An unintended side-effect of the lighthouse soon emerged, in which local entrepreneurs began ferrying increasing numbers of tourists to the region. News quickly spread about the tranquil environment of St. Simons Island, inspiring families to establish their own summer houses along its shoreline. Several entrepreneurs also began constructing a few hotels and resorts as well, giving rise to a prosperous tourism industry that was to last well into the 20th century. Additional developments further enhanced the region’s appeal to tourists during the 1920s, culminating with the debut of the F.J. Torras Causeway. (More than 5,000 automobiles alone traveled the route on its very first day!) Both the temporary and permanent population of St. Simons Island rose exponentially during the 1940s, even as the nation found itself embroiled in the Second World War. Soldiers found the island to be very attractive as a vacation spot for when they left their respective bases for leave. This popularity continued to be strong for the remainder of the century, which transformed St. Simons Island into one of the most exclusive vacation hotspots in the entire country.

Designed by architect Laurence Miller and Felton Davis shortly before America’s entry into World War II, the King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort is a brilliant example of Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture. In fact, the U.S. Department of the Interior has indicated that it is among the best of its kind throughout all of Georgia. A rare architectural form in the state, Spanish Colonial Revival style accounts for less than one percent of the historic buildings currently protected by the federal government in Georgia. The King and Prince best reflected the most popular aspects of the form, as its most iconic features involved low-pitched terra-cotta tile roofing and cantilevered balconies with decoratively sawn beams. Miller and Davis constructed the walls with a beige-colored stucco that contrasted wonderfully with the tile roof. They also rested the resort upon a P-shaped foundation, centered on an open courtyard as well as separate wings that contained the lobby, solarium, and kitchen. Both the lobby and one-story solarium resided on the northern side of the main building, while the kitchen and patio extended toward the south. Small, yet luxurious guestrooms existed on the second and third levels of the facility, including a magnificent bridal suite that provided amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean. Perhaps one of the most outstanding portions of the original King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort was its spectacular dining space. Situated between the kitchen and the patio, the room featured spectacular terrazzo flooring that displayed the image of a torch laid across a ship’s wheel. Furthermore, the walls of the dining room contained beautiful French doors, as well as stained glass windows developed by the Highpoint Glass and Decorative Company. Located in the transoms, the paneling depicted such important scenes in St. Simons’ history, including Fort Frederica, the St. Simons Lighthouse, and the Battle of Bloody Marsh.

In 1972—and again ten years later—the King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort underwent substantial renovations. The focus of both construction projects focused on restoring much of the original architecture, while also making the available services more appealing to contemporary travelers. Nonetheless, the historical integrity of the entire resort was respected by its owners, who saw it as a treasure worth preserving. In 1982, the King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort also saw the addition of a massive, two-story atrium that nearly doubled the size of the location. Along with providing a new lobby, it specifically included such spectacular facilities as a gift shop, indoor pool and several meeting spaces. Perhaps the greatest component of the atrium was the introduction of a new dining space that allowed the resort to become a leading culinary destination in coastal Georgia. Meanwhile, the former lobby and the solarium experienced a significant facelift, which reinforced the historical character of each space. Yet, they also received new finishes, such as a series of brilliant Tuscan columns. More recently, the King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort received even more renovations, which began in earnest in 2010. Lasting for three years, ownership called the “Castle Makeover.” Among the most significant developments that transpired as a result of the construction work was the creation of a brand-new dining facility called “ECHO.” Located just beyond the current lobby, the architecture of restaurant and accompanying bar reflected the rich maritime heritage of St. Simons Island. Other areas affected by the extensive renovation project covered the resort’s common areas, as well as its wonderful guestrooms.

Fifth Annual Bilderberg Meeting (1957): The Fifth Annual Bilderberg Conference met at the King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort from February 15 – 17, 1957. Like the previous conferences, the event constituted a gathering of leading figures from Europe and North America to informally talk about geopolitical issues that affect both continents. But much of the discussion at the Bilderberg Meetings attempted to reconcile the difficult topics that generated serious consternation among the nations in attendance. As such, the members of the conference ultimately try to set an agenda that may result in policy platforms that their wider world can subsequently adopt. To be invited to the Bilderberg Meeting, one had to be considered an expert in the fields of politics, industry, finance, and education, among other disciplines. And while many countries now have representatives at the more recent Bilderberg Meetings, the one held at the King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort in 1957 only had 12 in attendance. Nevertheless, those dignitaries—numbering 70 in total—attempted to resolve several serious problems affected their respective communities at that time. Of the various subjects introduced at the Fifth Annual Bilderberg Meeting, the most pressing involved:

• The rise of nationalism as disruptive influences on the democratic nations of the West
• Unfolding developments in the Middle East, especially in the aftermath of the Suez Crisis of 1956
• Relations with communist Eastern Europe, specifically East Germany and the prospects of reunification

Debates constituted the main form of discussion at the Fifth Annual Bilderberg Meeting, although joint conversations occurred, as well. Conference organizers circulated various background papers beforehand to prepare the attendees for the forums, too, so that the discussion remained constructive and energetic. In some cases, the authors of the documents would initiate dialogue with their fellow conference goers, before surrendering the floor to room. Yet, communication transpired in small groups, as a way of encouraging participation from all the members in attendance. The public was also shielded from the event, in order to dilute any outside sources from influencing the debates. In the end, those in attendance thoroughly enjoyed their three days at the King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort, finding its seaside location both tranquil and soothing.