Tybee Island is a unique, small coastal barrier island only 11 miles east of Savannah, GA.  Approximately 3500 locals call this island their paradise.

Beach lovers from all over the world claim Tybee as their paradise, too.  Numerous historic attractions on or near the island range from Fort Pulaski National Monument, Fort Pulaski was a Civil War - era fort and is now operated by the National Park Service, to the famous Savannah Historic District, located west of Tybee Island.  Tybee is a peaceful 15 minute drive over the marsh from historic Savannah, GA. Savannah is the setting for the popular novel, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." and "Forrest Gump" and is now the home of Paula Deen, famous chef.

Things to do on Tybee:

Free!!  Go Crabbing, Go Surfing, Go to the Beach, Fly a Kite, People Watch at the Pier, visit the parks and Tybee's historic cemetary, Watch a sunset on the Back River and watch the Sunrise on the front beach and go shelling and beachcombing.   - The Beach Never Gets Old!

or for a little $

Take a Dolphin tour, go kite boarding, rent a bike, play bingo, go kayaking, charter a fishing trip, rent a jet ski, go parasailing, Visit the marine science center, climb to the top of the lighthouse, explore the museum and batteries of Old Fort Screven, enjoy a seafood dinner, so shopping.

History is everywhere on this small 2.67 square mile island including Fort Pulaski National Monument.  Fort Pulaski was a Civil War - era fort and is now operated by the National Park Service and  the famous Savannah Historic District is located just west of Tybee Island.. Colonial settlers were in and around Savannah from the early 1700s.

Legend has it that the name Tybee came from an Indian word meaning salt meadow. Centuries ago, Tybee Island was part of the Native American Gaulle kingdom of Indians who lived on the seven large barrier islands stretching from Cumberland island to Tybee.  Later Yamacraw Indian families from the Savannah area oystered, fished, and collected salt on the island.

Spanish and French settlers both landed on Tybee's shores but were soon driven out by the British in the 1730s, when Gen. James Oglethorpe established the colony of Georgia and took over the island.  In 1736, John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, arrived on Tybee Island.

Tybee quickly became an important navigational and military tool for Georgia. Between 1733 and 1773, three lighthouses were built on Tybee to help ships navigate in and out of the Savannah River. It also became one of Savannah's most important lines of defense.

On a quiet side street on the north end of the island, near old Fort Screven, sits the restored Tybee Island Lighthouse, a vintage brick structure that towers massively over the surrounding homes and beaches.

The Tybee lighthouse site dates back to the Colonial period. The light would help sailing vessels on their final approach to Savannah.

Now, the Tybee Island Lighthouse is a short and pleasant stroll from nearby beaches. After a day on the sunny beach, the cool tower on Tybee, which is also the site of a small lighthouse museum, is just the place to go.

See more Tybee landscapes...

From the 1920s to the 1950s, Tybee was booming. Jazz and nightclubs took over the island during the Big Band Era.

Come and see our "New Beach" - Tybee beachgoers today will have about 1.2 million cubic yards more sand to play on than they did just months ago. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed the dredging phase of its beach renourishment project more than a month ahead of schedule, said corps spokesman.

Tybee Theatre - Restoration

Word is that the Tybee Theatre is the first theatre in Georgia to show "talkie" movies. The theater was built in the 1930s to show movies to soldiers stationed at Fort Screven, replacing one that was housed in a tent.

When the fort closed in the 1940s, it was converted into a public movie house and was renamed the Beach Theater.

Currently the Friends of the Tybee Theater took over in 2006 and supervised the first phase of the restoration - stabilization of the roof. The restoration is partially being funded with proceeds from sales of the historic-preservation license plates.

See more Tybee Historic Postcards...

Tybee Pier

Come and explore the island's newest addition, the Tybee Fishing Pier and Pavilion, located on the strand between 15th and Tybrisa streets.

Restaurants

TYBEE is home to many fabulous restaurants, from laid-back digs featuring  local "Tybee White Shrimp" deep fried or placed on your favorite pasta dish to upscale dining.  We always provide our "favorites" to all of our guests.  Yes, it is worth it to stand in line for breakfast at The Breakfast Club on Tybee.

See also...

Weather and Marine Information

Tybee Island Slideshows