The time has come to say goodbye to the Folly Beach Pier. Locals and visitors gathered last Sunday, October 18th, to say their goodbyes to the current Folly Pier. As we posted in January 2020, the Folly Beach Pier is being demolished and replaced to make way for a new, safer pier. The new pier should be open to the public approximately in the Spring of 2023.

Construction Phases

Construction on the new pier is set to start in November 2020, after the completion of turtle nesting season. In total, construction is set to take 28 months, The current plan calls for “top down” construction starting with the “apron” area of the pier. The “apron” is the rectangular area behind the gift shop and restaurant. This will be replaced first along with the the first few bends of the pier walkway.

Next, a trestle will be built leading to the diamond head at the end of the pier. The diamond head will then be demolished and rebuilt. The last phase of construction includes building the walkway starting at the diamond head and working back towards the shore.

Construction Impacts

Visitors and locals should avoid the area around the pier as it undergoes construction. The gift shop and restaurant will be closed until Spring 2021, when the “apron” construction is expected to be completed. Parking will also be restricted around the pier. No public parking will be able available at the pier, however, beginning in the Spring 2021, about half of the pier’s parking lot will reopen for public use.

New Pier Additions

The new pier be safer for visitors and include several enhancements and new additions. The new pier will be constructed of pre-stressed concrete pilings, a concrete substructure, concrete beams, and wooden timber deck panels, making it a safer option compared to the deteriorating wood pilings of the old pier.

In addition to safety enhancements, the new pier will also feature two areas with widened walkways and covered shelters in the middle, allowing for more fishing locations, and better pedestrian access.

You can follow along the pier’s construction on the Charleston County Parks’ website to get the latest on the progress and any closures associated with the construction.