Dungeness on Cumberland Island, Georgia, is a ruined mansion that is part of a historic district that was the home of several families significant in American history. James Oglethorpe first built on Cumberland Island in 1736, building a hunting lodge that he named Dungeness. Oglethorpe named the place after Dungeness, in England. The next Dungeness was the legacy of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene, who had acquired 11,000 acres of island land in exchange for a bad debt. His widow built a four-story tabby mansion in 1803, over a Timucuan shell mound. During the War of 1812 the island was occupied by the British, who used the house as a headquarters.
In 1818 Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee, a dashing cavalry commander during the Revolutionary War and father of Robert E. Lee, stayed at the house until his death on March 25, 1818, cared for by Greene's daughter Louisa, and was laid to rest in nearby cemetery with full military honors provided by an American fleet stationed at St. Marys, Georgia. The house was abandoned during the U.S. Civil War and burned in 1866.
In the 1880s the property was purchased by Thomas M. Carnegie, brother of Andrew Carnegie, who began to build a new mansion on the site. The 59-room Queen Anne style mansion and grounds were completed after Carnegie's death in 1886. His wife Lucy continued to live at Dungeness and built other estates for her children, including Greyfield for Margaret Carnegie, Plum Orchard for George Lauder Carnegie, and Stafford Plantation. By this time, the Carnegies owned 90% of the island.
The Carnegies moved out of Dungeness in 1925. In 1959 the Dungeness mansion was destroyed by fire, alleged to be arson. The ruins are today preserved by the National Park Service as part of Cumberland Island National Seashore. They were acquired by the Park Service in 1972.

Search Cottages in Cumberland Island

Change your mind
Book hotels with free cancellation
Treat yourself
Sign in to save 10% or more on thousands of hotels
Sign in
Be picky
Search almost a million properties worldwide

Check prices for these dates

In two weeks

In two months

In three months

In four months

Cottages in Cumberland Island

Cottage in East Beach

Gordon O.

SAR 4,015 total

includes taxes & fees

4 Dec - 5 Dec

Cottage in Kings Terrace

Jessica

SAR 1,260 total

includes taxes & fees

4 Dec - 5 Dec

Cottage in King City

Eugenia B.

SAR 1,685 total

includes taxes & fees

4 Dec - 5 Dec

Cottage in Yulee

Kevin B.

SAR 912 total

includes taxes & fees

4 Dec - 5 Dec

View all properties

Save an average of 15% on thousands of hotels when you're signed in

Top Cumberland Island Hotel Reviews

Best Western Plus Jekyll Island

10/10 Excellent

"Very clean."

Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Jekyll Island

10/10 Excellent

"The breakfast menus said continental - wasn’t expecting anything special- somehow this breakfast was the best breakfast. I don’t eat sausage - I ate 5 pieces. My daughter doesn’t eat eggs- she went back for seconds. Everything in this breakfast was mouthwatering ! The location was excellent and the staff was very friendly! I think her name was Leslie when we checked in was really sweet and helpful- I would definitely recommend this hotel !! "

Frequently asked questions

Why book your cottage in Cumberland Island with Expedia?

We think that vacations should be hassle-free, so if you're in search of cottages in Cumberland Island at an affordable rate, Expedia has got your back. Keep the budget under control and select a low-cost option far from the downtown buzz, or splurge on an upmarket cottage to pamper your favorite people.

How can I find cheap cottages in Cumberland Island?

A great way to locate cheap cottages in Cumberland Island is with Expedia's useful filter tool. Fine-tune your search results by amenities, star rating and budget to take advantage of awesome bargains in a few clicks.

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

Popular Destinations

Cottages in St. Marys

Top Cottages in Other Destinations

Cottages in Atlanta

Search Cottages in Cumberland Island

Change your mind

Treat yourself

Be picky

Check prices for these dates

Cottages in Cumberland Island

Cottage in East Beach

Cottage in Kings Terrace

Cottage in King City

Cottage in Yulee

White Friday Sale

Top Cumberland Island Hotel Reviews

Best Western Plus Jekyll Island

Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Jekyll Island

Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kingsland Naval Base I-95

Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa

The Inn by Sea Island

Tru By Hilton Brunswick

Hampton Inn St. Simons Island

The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

Ocean Coast Hotel at the Beach Amelia Island

Frequently asked questions

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

Popular Destinations

Top Cottages in Other Destinations

More Accommodation Types in Cumberland Island