Saint Simons Island, Georgia 31522
Official WebsiteIn 1742, during the War of Jenkins’ Ear, English and Spanish forces fought in an encounter later known as the “Battle of Bloody Marsh”. The name came from old tales claiming the marsh “ran red with the blood of Spaniards”. However, official Spanish records indicate that only seven grenadiers died during this battle.
Due to the efforts of Lt. Patrick Sutherland of the (old) 42nd Regiment of Foot and the Highlanders from Darien, the battle was a British victory, ending the Spanish claim to Georgia.
The Bloody Marsh Unit is located on St. Simon’s Island, off Demere Road. It is open 8:30 am to 4:00 pm 7 days a week, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
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There’s something for everyone to explore on St. Simons Island — pristine, natural beaches and marshlands, abundant wildlife, historic sites and monuments, parks and outdoor recreation, world-class accommodations, fishing, watersports, boutique shopping, and delectable dining. Yet you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time to your own private beach town getaway, a hidden gem of a casual coastal paradise that has remained untouched by overzealous development and commercial activity. Surrounded on all sides by historic Southern Oaks draped in Spanish Moss that have survived for hundreds of years, expansive marshlands and waterways, sandbars, and the Atlantic ocean in the background, St. Simons Island will capture your heart and imagination like nowhere else on Earth.
Roadside viewing
Wheelchair accessible trail
Entrance fee
Content from Saint Simons Island website and Bloody Marsh Unit - Fort Frederica NM website
Last updated July 12, 2023