Best St. Marys Villas: Private & Luxury Villa Accommodations in St. Marys

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 villas

Villa, 3 Bedrooms, Ocean View | Beach/ocean view

Villas By the Sea Resort & Conference Center

Jekyll Island

Valerie

includes taxes & fees

17 Feb - 18 Feb

Gorgeous Upscale Villa, Short Walk to Beach and Pier!

St Simons

Audrie W.

includes taxes & fees

16 Feb - 17 Feb

2810 Ohio Avenue #3

Fernandina Beach

includes taxes & fees

1 Mar - 2 Mar

Ocean Lookout #3 | Heated Pool | Beachfront Deck | Stunning Ocean Views

Fernandina Beach

Charlene M.

2810 Ohio Avenue #1

Fernandina Beach

includes taxes & fees

3 Mar - 4 Mar

2810 Ohio Avenue #2

Fernandina Beach

includes taxes & fees

2 Mar - 3 Mar

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Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Jekyll Island

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St. Marys Villas information

Number of reviews	1,277
Accommodation	52 Villas
Lowest Price	AU$247
Highest Price	AU$1,090

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do near my villa in St. Marys?

There are loads of fantastic things to put on your itinerary in St. Marys. Check out well-known attractions like Laurel Island Links, St. Marys Railroad Museum and Cumberland Island Ferry. St. Marys Submarine Museum, Club at Osprey Cove and McIntosh Sugarmill Park also lure many visitors.

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Villas By the Sea Resort & Conference Center