Ossabaw Island

Ossabaw Island is a national treasure preserved by Eleanor Torrey-West and her family for the benefit of present and future generations. The island was generously transferred to the State of Georgia on June 15,1978 and designated as Georgia’s first Heritage Preserve with the written understanding that Ossabaw would “only be used for natural, scientific and cultural study, research and education, and environmentally sound preservation, conservation and management of the Island’s ecosystem.” The acquisition was made possible by the generosity of Mrs. West and her family, a personal gift to the State of Georgia from Robert W. Woodruff, the assistance of The Nature Conservancy, and the State’s commitment to preservation of the island.

Today Ossabaw is managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), through its Wildlife Resources Division, Game Management Section. DNR has entered into a Use Agreement with The Ossabaw Island Foundation, a Savannah-based non-profit organization which has the exclusive right to use certain areas on the north end and non-exclusive access to other areas. The foundation works cooperatively with DNR to manage access to Ossabaw for public educational programs.

For additional information: info@ossabawisland.org
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