"The State of Georgia took formal possession of Jekyll Island on October 7, 1947. By early November, road-grading equipment was shipped to the island and approximately 15 highway department employees worked on improving the road infrastructure. While discussion of sending a work detail of 100 to 150 convicts was contemplated, it was eventually decided to use primarily contractors and paid laborers to revitalize island buildings. For a brief time in early 1948 about 30 prisoners and 6 Board of Correction guards from came to the island and trimmed palmettos, cut grass and pruned golf course vegetation. ... ... Jekyll Island State Park officially opened March 5, 1948."