18 months and $3.2M later, the storm-damaged Ventura Pier will reopen

Eighteen months after storm swells damaged the historic Ventura Pier , forcing it to close, officials announced Tuesday that it will reopen this weekend.

During a media-only event to announce the opening, Mayor Joe Schroeder said, "This closure was necessary to ensure the safety of our community, and it's been a long journey for us."

Extensive work was required to fix corrosion and to replace pilings damaged by heavy surf during a winter littered with storms.

Pier gates will open to the public at 8:30 am on Saturday, and as KNX News' Pete Demetriou reports, residents - new and old - couldn't be happier to see it reopened.

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Kari and her husband, for example, are eager to stroll the 1,620 feet of timber and steel jutting out over the water. They moved to the area in 2023, so it will be the first time they'll get to do that.

Another longtime Ventura resident says that given the possibility of significant storms in the months ahead, he wants to get his walks in before any more damage occurs.

The repairs weren't cheap—a substantial 3.2 million dollars in federal and local funds—but to the many visitors attracted to the pier for fishing, walking, or take in the views, it's worth every penny.

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