We were greeted by news on Saturday morning that the National Park Service expects to remove the remnants of The Frisco Fishing Pier.
The iconic, but extremely battered pier officially known as "The Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier" has been closed for more than 5 years (except for a brief period in 2010) due to years of exposure to storms.
The National Park Service owns all oceanfront property on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and has decided the remnants of the pier present a nuisance and the pier cannot be rebuilt. Sections of the pier have collapsed into the water in the past three years. The news release from the Cape Hatteras Seashore also indicated that the Park Service plans to purchase Cape Hatteras Pier Drive and turn it into a beach access point for the public.
The pier was originally built in 1962 and was more than 400 feet long in its heyday. The pier was popular not only for terrific fishing (it was the only pier on the Outer Banks that extended into the ocean in a southerly direction (all others extend east), but it was a favorite of sightseers. Storms began taking their toll in 2003 when Hurricane Isabel struck the OBX. Tod Gaskill was the owner of the company that contracted with the Park Service and said the expense of repair simply outweighs the potential gain.
A sad day for those that enjoyed this grand old pier, but happier days are ahead if indeed the Park Service follows through as promised with creating another beach access and parking area on Hatteras Island.
All the best from the beach!
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| Frisco Pier in better times |
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| Frisco Pier during Hurricane Sandy (Picture by Don Bowers) |
The National Park Service owns all oceanfront property on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and has decided the remnants of the pier present a nuisance and the pier cannot be rebuilt. Sections of the pier have collapsed into the water in the past three years. The news release from the Cape Hatteras Seashore also indicated that the Park Service plans to purchase Cape Hatteras Pier Drive and turn it into a beach access point for the public.
The pier was originally built in 1962 and was more than 400 feet long in its heyday. The pier was popular not only for terrific fishing (it was the only pier on the Outer Banks that extended into the ocean in a southerly direction (all others extend east), but it was a favorite of sightseers. Storms began taking their toll in 2003 when Hurricane Isabel struck the OBX. Tod Gaskill was the owner of the company that contracted with the Park Service and said the expense of repair simply outweighs the potential gain.
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| Recent Picture of The Frisco Pier |
A sad day for those that enjoyed this grand old pier, but happier days are ahead if indeed the Park Service follows through as promised with creating another beach access and parking area on Hatteras Island.
All the best from the beach!
By Tim Cafferty, President, Outer Banks Blue Realty Services
