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When preparing for a beach vacation, you might just envision yourself relaxing with your friends or family at the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, with the warm, salty breeze replacing the hustle and bustle of your daily life. The millions of visitors to Galveston Island each year are welcome to experience the tranquility of the Gulf of Mexico to induce a bit of leisure time and relaxation. But if you were looking for a bit more of a thrill where the salt water meets the sand, well, you haven't been the only one seeking excitement under the sun in Galveston's storied history.
Amusement at the beachfront can be found at 25th and Seawall, at the Historic Pleasure Pier. Stretching over 1,100 feet over the Gulf of Mexico, Galveston's Historic Pleasure Pier has a rich and fascinating history, undergoing a significant transformation from its military roots to its modern-day amusement.
Throughout the 20th century, America's historic recreational piers and boardwalks, like Navy Pier in Chicago, Santa Monica Pier in Southern California, and the Atlantic City Boardwalk in New Jersey, were beacons of entertainment and family fun near the beach. Among these iconic coastal destinations has been Galveston's Pleasure Pier. Although it's had a hotel hiatus, It's top-tier entertainment has drawn massive crowds to Galveston Island since the 1940s.
Before the Pleasure Pier was constructed in Galveston, the beachfront was scattered with bathhouses. These venues directly served beachgoers on Galveston Island, providing showers, souvenirs, and concessions. By the 1930s, the bathhouses and recreational facilities that existed had gradually deteriorated over time, and the beachfront was unsightly and disorderly.
In the late 1930s, construction of the original Pleasure Pier began after the city of Galveston secured a 1.1 million loan from the Federal Government's Reconstruction Finance Corporation, also known as the RFC. The RFC provided federal funding to aid in financing agriculture, commerce, and industry during America's Great Depression.
Originally, the ideal market for the Pleasure Pier was military personnel and their families, as there were multiple military installations in and around Galveston, such as Fort Crockett, Fort San Jacinto, and Fort Travis. In December of 1941, construction was nearly complete when the United States entered World War II, halting the completion of the Pleasure Pier. During the war, entertainment and amusement eluded the Pleasure Pier. The completed portion of the Pier was used as a storage depot for military equipment and supplies. After World War II ended in 1945, a group of Galveston businessmen stepped forward to create the Galveston Pier Company and drew up an offer to sign a 10-year lease on the property.
The Pleasure Pier was officially opened in May 1948, and Galveston residents were thrilled to see the extraordinary vision they had been dreaming of for nearly a decade come to life. The grand steel and concrete structure was transformed into a true pleasure pier, claiming the title of the largest Pier of its kind in the country. The original pleasure pier featured fishing facilities, an indoor carnival, a ballroom, an aquarium, an outdoor theater with an attached high diving exhibition, and several shops, restaurants, and bars, making it a premier destination for all ages.
The Pier significantly boosted Galveston's tourism industry.
An episode of the 1960s TV show "Route 66" was even filmed on the original Pleasure Pier. Unfortunately, in 1961, Hurricane Carla, a powerful Category 4 storm, wreaked havoc on Galveston Island and the Pleasure Pier property, marking the end of the first Pleasure Pier.
Rising from the ruins of Hurricane Carla, The USS Flagship Hotel, affectionately referred to as the Flagship opened in 1965 on the former Pleasure Pier site. It was built on the historic Pleasure Pier pylons and foundation over the Gulf of Mexico. This lavish lodging became a tourism icon on Galveston's beachfront, carrying on the life of the original Pleasure Pier. The USS Flagship Hotel was a seven-story, 225-room hotel. For decades, the allure of staying in a hotel perched over the gulf kept the Flagship's elegant rooms in high demand.
After all, each one offered a breathtaking ocean view. The Admiral Nimitz suite was available to those seeking a luxurious stay. The flagship hotel also served as a venue for proms, conventions, weekend retreats, family vacations, honeymoons, and even synchronized swimming competitions. It was a popular hotel destination on Galveston's beachfront, known for withstanding many storms thrown at it by the Gulf of Mexico. But in 2008, the risk of living on the Gulf Coast came to fruition as Hurricane Ike dealt a blow that would end the life of the flagship hotel. The recovery from Hurricane Ike, like the 1900 storm, underscores the resilience and determination that Galvestonians have for rebuilding their economy.
In 2009, Landry's Incorporated, a renowned hospitality and entertainment company, proposed an ambitious plan to breathe new life into the Pier, envisioning it as a modern amusement park. By early 2011, renovations were underway, and in January 2012, Landrys unveiled plans to transform the site into a vibrant hub of family fun. Their vision was to recapture the original spirit of the Pier, making it a premier destination for amusement park enthusiasts. This transformation not only revitalized the Pier but also preserved its historical significance, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy the thrills above the waves of the Gulf of Mexico. In May 2012, the Pleasure Pier reopened, completely transformed into a hub of excitement that we see today.
Galveston's Pleasure Pier pays homage to the island's storied past, especially in regard to entertainment over the sand, featuring rides, games, retail shops, and diverse food venues. It showcases the ever-enduring allure of seaside fun, and notably Galveston's unwavering resilience in the face of adversity, inspiring us with its story of survival and revival, Galveston's historic pleasure pier.
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Author
J.R. Shaw Creator & Host of Galveston Unscripted
J.R. Shaw is the creator and host of Galveston Unscripted Podcast & audio tour. Shaw recognizes that history is nuanced and learning it can be powerful. He's made it his mission to reduce the friction between true history and anyone who is willing to listen! J.R. Shaw focuses on telling the full story through podcasting and social media with the goal of making learning accurate history easy and entertaining for all who seek it.
J.R. grew up along the Texas Gulf Coast, where he learned to love talking with anyone about anything! He started Galveston Unscripted after he realized how much he loved talking to people about their stories related to Galveston Island and Texas History. "So much of our history is lost when we don't have the opportunity to hear from those who lived it or have second-hand knowledge."
