Gascoigne Bluff

Historically, Gascoigne Bluff was the first possible landing area for a ship entering the harbor. The site of an Indian settlement long before the Wesley's landed here with James Oglethorpe, Gascoigne Bluff has been headquarters for a military invasion, a Sea Island cotton plantation, the site of a lumber mill and a shipping point for timber. Live oak timbers milled here in 1794 were used in building “Old Ironsides,” the U.S.S. Constitution. In 1874, timbers were cut here for the Brooklyn Bridge.

At Gascoigne Bluff, you can visit the Cassina Garden Club Slave Cabins from the Plantation Era, a Southern Red Cedar tree that is the second largest of its kind in Georgia, a fishing pier, and a beautiful stand of live oak trees. Across the Frederica River, you will see three “ballast hammocks," small islands formed from ballast dumped by European ships before taking on cotton or lumber.

In addition to being a historic site, Gascoigne Bluff features 24 acres of greenspace, including a public fishing pier, a floating dock, a picnic pavilion, two grills, a disc golf course, a fitness trail and restroom facilities. The park is free, open year round and host to numerous events such as the annual Georgia Sea Islands Festival. The 6-hole disc golf course is spread throughout the live oak grove. Along the Southeast side of the live oak grove you will see the entrance to the Southeast Georgia Health System Fitness Trail which is a paved fitness trail with signs along the way educating visitors about the “Fit-Trail” balanced program of total fitness conditioning.

Gascoigne Bluff is a great place for a family picnic/BBQ under the pavilion and provides easy access to the pier for fishing or boating. Since Gascoigne Bluff is the location for many annual events and fishing tournaments, it is a good idea to check our events calendar before you visit. Restrooms are on-site near the Pier.