A BOUNTY OF LIVE OAKS
The Old Ironsides Property contains seven (7) large live oak trees, including one named “Old Ironsides” which is a 300-year-old specimen registered with the Louisiana Garden Club, Inc. Live Oak Society. The property is immediately adjacent to the publicly accessible bike path that runs almost the entire length of Frederica Road, which runs north to south through the middle of the island. It is just south of John Gilbert Nature Trail, the Land Trust’s most popular property.
The Land Trust plans to replant the property with a variety of native plants that will enhance its ecological significance and provide an example of both the functionality and beauty of native landscaping. Its primary conservation purpose is to provide protected habitat and enhance its environmental value.
THINGS TO DO
Old Ironsides is planned to be a protected greenspace with minimal public access and predominantly as a place to rest along the bike path.
THE HISTORY OF PROTECTING OLD IRONSIDES FOREVER
The protection of the Old Ironsides Property is an exciting and important piece in the Frederica Greenway extending from John Gilbert Nature Trail to the SSLT Offices at 1810 Frederica Road. The acquisition of this property in October 2024 reduced development by reducing the lot from having 3 homesites as a developer originally planned.
As with the entirety of St. Simons Island, this property was previously utilized by Native Americans up to 5,000 years ago. Native American tribes that would have been living and utilizing St. Simons include the Guale and Timucuan. The property was likely once a portion of the historic 6-mile long Military Road that extended from Fort Frederica, crossed today’s Frederica Road by Harrington, and continued along the marsh through today’s NPS Bloody Marsh site, ending at Fort St. Simons, where the lighthouse now stands. This property was presumably a portion of Black Banks, a plantation owned by James Gould, the builder and first keeper of the St. Simons Lighthouse.
Protected Properties
This property is not yet open to the public. Native landscaping coming soon!