St. Marys Vacation Homes

Dungeness on Cumberland Island, Georgia, is a ruined mansion that is part of a historic district that was the home of several families significant in American history. James Oglethorpe first built on Cumberland Island in 1736, building a hunting lodge that he named Dungeness. Oglethorpe named the place after Dungeness, in England. The next Dungeness was the legacy of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene, who had acquired 11,000 acres of island land in exchange for a bad debt. His widow built a four-story tabby mansion in 1803, over a Timucuan shell mound. During the War of 1812 the island was occupied by the British, who used the house as a headquarters.
In 1818 Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee, a dashing cavalry commander during the Revolutionary War and father of Robert E. Lee, stayed at the house until his death on March 25, 1818, cared for by Greene's daughter Louisa, and was laid to rest in nearby cemetery with full military honors provided by an American fleet stationed at St. Marys, Georgia. The house was abandoned during the U.S. Civil War and burned in 1866.
In the 1880s the property was purchased by Thomas M. Carnegie, brother of Andrew Carnegie, who began to build a new mansion on the site. The 59-room Queen Anne style mansion and grounds were completed after Carnegie's death in 1886. His wife Lucy continued to live at Dungeness and built other estates for her children, including Greyfield for Margaret Carnegie, Plum Orchard for George Lauder Carnegie, and Stafford Plantation. By this time, the Carnegies owned 90% of the island.
The Carnegies moved out of Dungeness in 1925. In 1959 the Dungeness mansion was destroyed by fire, alleged to be arson. The ruins are today preserved by the National Park Service as part of Cumberland Island National Seashore. They were acquired by the Park Service in 1972.

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Our top choices for St. Marys holiday homes

Holiday Home in St. Marys

Brandon L.

HK$3,652 total

includes taxes & fees

23 Mar - 24 Mar

Holiday Home in St. Marys

Janice F.

HK$2,899 total

includes taxes & fees

23 Mar - 24 Mar

Holiday Home in St Marys

Mary R.

HK$2,453 total

includes taxes & fees

22 Mar - 23 Mar

Holiday Home in Fernandina Beach

Greg B.

HK$3,348 total

includes taxes & fees

22 Mar - 23 Mar

Holiday Home in East End

Cheryl H.

HK$2,200 total

includes taxes & fees

19 Mar - 20 Mar

Holiday Home in Waverly

Michael M.

HK$3,514 total

includes taxes & fees

17 Mar - 18 Mar

Holiday Home in Brunswick

james s.

HK$1,378 total

includes taxes & fees

15 Mar - 16 Mar

Holiday Home in Yulee

"We enjoyed the walking trail behind the house with our dog. It was easy access out the back door. The parking in the front was a bit tight since we had a truck but we were able to park across from the complex. Everything was decently clean. Towels and other necessities were provided. The drive to the beach wasn’t bad and we did it both days we were there. The place was close to shopping such as the grocery store, Target, restaurants, and other various stores. Overall, we enjoyed our stay."

Emily F.

HK$2,400 total

includes taxes & fees

15 Mar - 16 Mar

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Top St. Marys Hotel Reviews

Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kingsland Naval Base I-95

6/10 Okay

"The room we were first put into the TV and phone didn't work. The staff was very accommodating and moved us to a different room but that room the AC didn't work very well."

Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Jacksonville Airport

6/10 Okay

"The room had no soap, I had to go to the front desk and ask for more. Other than that, it was ok. I had more of an issue with the transportation company the hotel contracts out as an airport shuttle. They were unreliable. We had to call the hotel and ask for them to send a shuttle when other hotels had shuttles showing up every 5 minutes. Then this morning, there were about 5 people trying to get to the airport and the shuttle was 30 minutes late. The hotel tried to call them several times, and no one answered. I guess the driver overslept. We almost missed our flights. "

Extended Stay America Premier Suites - Jacksonville - Airport

8/10 Good

"The room was spacious, clean, and comfortable. Our only complaint was, it was noisy. The room above us had a person who walked like King Kong. Also, the doors were very heavy, and everyone just let them slam. The location was excellent ! "

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