Floyds Island Hammock
Also known as: Hebard Cabin
Why it's listed
Floyds Island Hammock is a wooded island in the Okefenokee Swamp, near Folkston, Georgia, where a one-story, T-shaped cypress cabin was built in 1925 by Daniel Hebard. The Hebard family held large swamp tracts and logged cypress there from 1901 to 1927, running railroad lines across the island. The cabin served as a hunting and fishing camp, with caretaker Billy Spaulding living nearby from 1925 to 1937. It also hosted visiting scientists and a Senate committee examining possible wildlife preserves. The family sold its holdings to the federal government in 1937, and the land became the core of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Later repairs, many carried out by Boy Scout Troop 123, kept the cabin standing, and it now serves as an overnight stop for canoeists. Associated sites include the Cook's House site, Spaulding's cabin site, guide hut sites, a prehistoric mound and railroad pilings. Together they illustrate logging, recreation and conservation in the swamp.
Significance in brief: The camp is argued to represent the commercial, scientific and recreational uses of the Okefenokee Swamp from the late 19th to mid-20th century. It is tied to the Hebard family's cypress logging operations and to their use of the island as a hunting retreat. The Hebards' interest in conservation, which grew during hunting trips, and visits by scientists and congressional delegations add to its importance.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 00000389, listed April 21, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Folkston |
|---|---|
| County | Charlton County |
| Listed | April 21, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000389 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1901-1937 |
| Architect / builder | Daniel L. Hebard |
| Architectural style | Late 19th-early 20th century vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Industry, Conservation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The cabin has been repaired and renovated many times between 1937 and 1995 and is used as a canoeist base camp. The Cook's House was removed in 1974. |
| Acreage | 111 |
| Coordinates | 30.85947, -82.26325 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 00000389.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q30626958
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.