After two years of anticipation and uncertainty, residents and visitors may soon be able to once again enjoy long walks on the Holden Beach Fishing Pier. The town is gradually moving toward a decision that could either see the nearly 70-year-old pier repaired or entirely replaced.
The iconic pier, located at 441 Ocean Blvd. West, has been closed since the town acquired it, along with the adjoining pier house, for approximately $3.3 million in 2022. Since then, questions about the pier’s future have lingered, with town officials and the community debating whether to refurbish or rebuild the aging structure.
Now, Holden Beach officials are taking concrete steps toward resolving the issue. The town is in the process of soliciting qualifications from firms to draft initial designs and cost estimates for both potential outcomes—repairing or replacing the pier.
At a public input session earlier this year, locals had the chance to share their opinions, with many expressing a strong desire to see the pier reopened. This feedback has helped guide the town’s Board of Commissioners as they slowly advance the project.
In April, the board gave the green light to a development plan that lays out a phased approach to revitalizing the pier. The initial phase involves stabilizing the structure, followed by addressing safety concerns, completing additional repairs, and, eventually, extending the pier. The plan acknowledges that these steps will need to align with available funding, which may come through loans or bonds.
One key consideration is whether to opt for a wooden pier, which is more financially feasible for Holden Beach’s smaller tax base, or a concrete one, which is the preferred option for durability but may be too costly.
By May, the board had taken another important step, instructing town staff to draft a request for proposals (RFP) to move forward with the preliminary design work and cost estimates. While there’s no definitive timeline yet, Holden Beach is clearly on the path to making a final decision on the future of the pier.
Residents and visitors alike are eagerly awaiting the day they can once again enjoy the pier, making new memories along the Carolina coast.