Horton House

Horton House is the roofless tabby ruin of the home William Horton built on Jekyll Island in 1743 after Spanish troops destroyed his earlier residence during the 1742 campaign along the Georgia coast. Horton was a prominent figure in the young colony and a military aide to James Oglethorpe who commanded troops associated with nearby Fort Frederica. The property also reflects Jekyll Island's later history through the DuBignon family, whose members owned the island for much of the 19th century and are represented in the small cemetery across the road.

Visitors can walk around and through the surviving tabby walls, study interpretive signs, and examine the oyster-shell-based building material that made the house unusually durable. The adjoining historic landscape, nearby cemetery, and connection to colonial agriculture and defense make the stop much more than a picturesque ruin. It is an easy self-guided visit that works particularly well for travelers exploring the older history of Jekyll Island beyond its better-known Gilded Age district.