AVENUE OF OAKS

Visitors are invariably captivated by the beautiful natural canopy provided by the thousands of live oak trees that grow to such majestic sizes in this area.

So named because their deep green leaves retain their color throughout the year, live oaks are known for their enormous size and vast networks of twisting, winding limbs. In the early days, St. Simons Island supported a thriving lumber industry. Oak timbers, cut from Cannons Point, were used in 1794 to build the U. S. frigate Constitution, named “Old Ironsides.” In 1874, timbers from the island were also cut for use in the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. While many trees in this area are older, legend holds that the average life span of a live oak is 300 years.

Today, centry old oaks draped in moss line the roads, sidewalks, and parks of St. Simons Island. Generations of visitors have enjoyed family picnics beneath their giant limbs.