When US 17, the Coastal Highway, was the main artery on the Atlantic seaboard from Virginia to Florida, the Brunswick Board of Trade & the Sea Island Company commissioned Francis L. Abreu to design this welcome center at the entrance to the St. Simons Causeway. Abreu, a famous architect in his own right, had collaborated with Addison Mizner on the original Cloister Hotel.
It was originally advertised as “Brunswick’s Greeting to Vacationists-Georgia’s Gateway to the Road to Romance and Recreation”. The building is in immediate need of preservation. We can only hope that Brunswick will recognize its importance and not have the same dismissive view of it that they’ve had of the historic Dart House, just down the road.
Abreu was born into a privileged Cuban-American background in 1896. His parents owned a sugar plantation and also kept a home in upstate New York. He was a member of the track team at Cornell University and served in the U. S. Navy in World War I. After earning a degree in architecture, he moved to Fort Lauderdale, where his parents had relocated, and was one of the most active early builders in the city’s first real estate boom. He met his future wife, May Patterson on Sea Island in 1938. They later settled in Atlanta where they were active philanthropists.
This is arguably the most prominent public building he designed still standing in Georgia. It should be preserved and National Register of Historic Places recognition sought.
http://abreufoundation.org/history/
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 
Yes! Preserve and not allow to become another gas station or car wash! I will take part!!!!
Please feel free to view the updates on the preservation of The Visitors Club, Brunswick, Georgia.
https://www.coastalgeorgiafoundation.org/news/visitor-s-club-preservation-fund-brunswick-news
Ms. Matters,
I hope you have been able to follow the progress of the preservation of the Visitors Club.
Is he the same Abreu that was Abreu and Robeson years a I remember meeting him. He was a friend of my parents. He encouraged me in my plans to become an architect. Sadly, girls weren’t welcomed at Georgia Tech in the early 50’s so i ended up at U of Ga….go Dawgs!
Hi Nanci!
YES! One in the same. I am his grandson and live just north of Atlanta. I was unaware of the efforts to save this wonderful building until my cousin who lives on Amelia Island alerted me to it. I am working with those to try and preserve and restore the building. Fingers crossed we can save this one. GO DAWGS!
Good luck….look forward to seeing the results next time I’m home!
Hi Mike,
With the great help of the Torras Foundation, the preservation for the Visitors Center is almost complete. Any information or photos that you may have of the original weather vane would be helpful.
Thanks so very very much for highlighting the history of the Welcome Center!!! And the criminal neglect by the City of Brunswick!
Trying to get more information about this building, I am the grandson of the architect and would like to possibly restore this back to it’s original condition. If you have any information please email me through our foundation. Abreufoundation.org Thank You!!
This building is owned by GDOT. I’m an architectural historian with GDOT. The building will not be demolished, as it is National Register eligible. Here is some additional information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6LpdxppfmiZV2ttaXFPeFByS0E/view?usp=sharing
Thanks, Amber! I guess you know Sharman, then! This is wonderful to know, but considering the track record of Brunswick in relation to such structures, you can understand my (and MANY in Glynn Couny who have contacted me) concern. I’ll let them know the good news 🙂
Hi Amber,
I tried your link but it no longer works. The Torras Foundation has been working to preserve the Visitors Club building and we are looking for some photos of the original weather vane, if you happen to have some please share. Thanks.
I hope it can be restored. I have great memories of going there as a child with my Mom when it was chamber of commerce offices. and I remember it being called Board of Trade back then.
I wonder if the city has a historical society? I am sure the county does. So much to do to keep what is left of the South’s interesting and beautiful places…I have seen so much lost forever. Thanks Brian, your work is wonderful.
Wow. These people are idiots. The Dart house and now this charmer threatened… Someone will claim it’s in too rough a shape to save. Termites dontcha know. They use that excuse for tabby and stucco structures on the coast a lot. I suspect much of it is repairable with a will to do it. I didn’t know this building existed. I wonder if there is an advocacy group as with the Dart house. I’ll have to look around.
Appreciate your efforts here, Brian Brown; and hoping they raise the level of awareness of this structure’s peculiar value.
They want to reconfigure the causeway & rt17 intersection and this building will most likely be taken down.
It certainly doesn’t surprise me, John. The lack of interest in historic preservation at the official level in Brunswick is alarming.
You probably know this building by sight?
W~
Sent from my iPad
This building is a beauty. I also hope it reaches the attention of the National Register of Historic Places.