New Pier Is Here

State and local officials were on hand for a grand opening Thursday, July 23, 2009 at Gulf State Park. Alabama Governor Bob Riley says the pier is a crowning achievement.

“Do you realize what we have is the most beautiful stretch of beach in the world,” said Riley to audience applause. At 1,540 feet long, the pier which cost more than $16 million to build, is nearly twice the length of old pier that was destroyed in 2004 by hurricane Ivan.

“As structurally sound as any pier that has ever been built we have the best on the Gulf Coast,” says the governor. Local officials say this is bigger and better than the original and despite the price tag, it's well worth it.

“To bring tourism to the area to help the economy, plus the protection of our small part of the gulf is vital to us because we can't make mistakes,” says Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Barnett Lawley. The pier isn't just about a fun day with a rod and reel. State officials also promise to use the pier as an educational tool.

“Our naturalist here will be taking school kids on field trips to show them the importance of why we need to protect our shoreline the estuaries,” says Lawley. It'll cost $8 a day to fish from the pier and just $3 to sightsee.