The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) officially dedicated to the community the newly rebuilt Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier during a ceremony on Wednesday, March 1. The new pier originally opened to the public on Dec. 26, 2022.
Attendees to the ceremony included current and past CCPRC commissioners including Edwin S. Taylor, Folly Beach Mayor Tim Goodwin, members of the pier replacement team, and members of the community. After a formal dedication ceremony, several attendees cast fishing rods into the water, in a special “dedication cast” at the new Folly Beach Pier.
The Folly Beach Pier closed to the public for a complete rebuilding project in October of 2020, and finished ahead of schedule, reopening the day after Christmas in 2022.
“We are honored to rededicate the Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier for the community,” said CCPRC Executive Director Kevin Bowie. “It truly is a landmark, and a place where thousands of locals and visitors have made special memories. Now, it will serve generations to come.”
Highlights of the new Folly Beach Pier
- 228 concrete pilings and a concrete substructure, with wooden walkway and railings
- 1,049 feet in length and 22 feet above sea level
- Most of the pier is 25 feet wide
- Two locations of the pier were slightly widened and covered, at 33 feet wide, allowing additional space for fishing
- Diamond Head platform at the end of the pier is 7,500 square feet in size
- Shade structures and benches
- Unobstructed ocean views, more efficient pedestrian access and modern improvements
- Wooden walkway panels designed to break away in the event of a large storm
- Longer lifespan than wooden piers (expected to be 65+ years)
The landmark Folly Beach Pier is the perfect location for saltwater fishing, walking, birding and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and the “Edge of America.” Pier operating hours are currently 8 a.m. to sunset (operating hours vary throughout the year). Additional amenities at the Folly Beach Pier include the Pier 101 Restaurant and Bar, beach access, restrooms, showers, and the Gangplank Gift & Tackle Shop (which offers rod rentals and sells gifts, sundry items, refreshments and tackle/bait).
The pier’s special events are scheduled to return in 2023, including the popular fishing tournaments and Moonlight Mixer dance series. In addition, the Charleston County Parks Foundation will host a special fundraising event called Folly Pier Fest on March 11. For additional information on all that the new Folly Beach Pier has to offer, visit www.ccprc.com/follypier. For more information on the Folly Beach Pier or Charleston County Parks, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com.
