Bearing the weight of a century of history and memories, the Pismo Beach Pier stands its ground to celebrate 100 years of serving the community.
In 1924, the pier was built to aid in receiving and sending shipments. Since then, it has been destroyed by various storms and has morphed through repeated reconstructions to become the pier it is now.
According to Effie McDermott, author of Images of America: Pismo Beach, a violent storm in 1983 severely damaged the pier. As a member of the Pismo Beach Waterfront Rehabilitation Committee at the time, McDermott helped plan a design for a new one.
In addition to adding a boardwalk from Main Street to Addie Street, McDermott explained how the committee decided on a design that would add diamond-shaped spaces throughout the pier.
“Instead of a straight, narrow pier where the rails on each side are just parallel to each other, and it goes straight out, we have these diamonds, you know, where you have these wide sections for activities and events,” McDermott said.
Common activities on the pier include sightseeing, strolling, eating, and even fishing. Given its status as a public pier, people can fish from it without a license.
Pismo Beach City Manager Jorge Garcia fondly remembers taking his two sons fishing for the first time on the pier.
“That’s something that will always be special for my family,” Garcia said. “I know that for a lot of families in the community, their first fishing opportunity was off of their municipal pier, which I think is always special.”
According to Garcia, the pier is a “central community meeting space,” where people can come to experience the history of Pismo Beach.
“I think people come to our coastline, not just to enjoy the beach, but also to enjoy our pier,” Garcia said. “I think it’s a symbol of being a coastal community, and a symbol of our history and our legacy as a community. You know, we have deep fishing roots as a community, and this pays homage to that.”
Pismo Beach Tourism and Events Director Gordon Jackson said that every year, he enjoys putting on events for the community on the pier, especially during the off-season for tourism.
When they plan activities during the off-season, “the residents are able to actually come to those events and are able to enjoy the town that they live in,” Jackson said.
During a celebration on Oct. 11 for the pier’s 100th anniversary, people were invited to experience the history of the pier through educational displays that showed how the community has changed over the last century. Local vendors provided food and beverages during the event.
Garcia said that the pier brings people together every day of the year, and he wants people to appreciate all that it has to offer.
“It’s the community’s outdoor living room,” Garcia said. “Whether you want to sit on one of our benches and enjoy the coastline, or whether you just want to take in some fresh air, it’s a great opportunity to enjoy the treasures that we have here on the Central Coast.”
Fast fact
• On Oct. 8, the Morro Bay Police Department launched its Leash Up It’s the Law enforcement campaign. Over 30 days, the Police Department will increase patrolling in all areas of the city including parks, sidewalks, and public spaces, looking for owners who don’t have their dog on a leash, which is required in the city. The campaign seeks to remind and encourage the community to leash up or face the possibility of receiving an administrative citation, according to the department. Leashing up can keep dogs safe from traffic and wildlife, prevents bites and fights, is courteous to others, and can protect the animals and people, the Police Department said. Δ
New Times intern Emma Montalbano can be reached at intern@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Oct 17-27, 2024.