CONTINUING COVERAGE: Gulf State Park Pier expected to reopen by end of summer

GULF SHORES, Ala. ( WKRG ) — One of the biggest attractions along our part of the Gulf Coast has not been fully operational since Hurricane Sally in September 2020.

But now park officials say by the end of summer Gulf State Park Pier will reopen to the public.

“We’re getting just as excited as everyone about getting the pier open,” and it won’t be long now, according to state park Operations Superintendent Lamar Pendergrass. “We are going full boar ahead with replacing the handrails and the deck boards.”

Concrete work around the octagon at the end of the pier delayed progress for a while.

“There was a lot more damage than we anticipated,” Pendergrass said. “There was damage below the surface of the water with some exposed rebar and things of that nature.”

Hurricane Sally did a number on the pier taking out a whole section and leaving almost half of it unsafe for anyone. Repairs began last fall, and there is still some work to do.

“We have to do the electrical, the water, the uplight, the downlights and other repairs that happened during Sally,” Pendergrass said.

What Sally couldn’t damage was the view. A walk along the pier Tuesday the water is clear, and there are reminders everywhere of what has been missed besides the fishing.

The big question mark is the observation tower. The elevator has to be replaced, which could take several more months, but that won’t delay the opening.

“We can and will open the pier without the observation tower until we get an elevator in place,” Pendergrass said.

Having the whole pier open again will likely be enough of a “lift” for most folks.

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