Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier

History

The new Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier was built 1130 ft out over the Gulf of Mexico waters. It had its "soft" opening on May 25, 2012.

The new pier complex is located where the original Pleasure Pier stood from 1943 until 1961, when it was destroyed by Hurricane Carla. The original Pleasure Pier featured rides, an arcade, an aquarium, concessions, a large ball room, named the Marine Ballroom, and fishing at the end of the pier. It was also the site of the USS Flagship Hotel, an over-the-water hotel built in 1965 that was demolished after Hurricane Ike in 2008.

Before the renovation there had been almost no maintenance in over 70 years, resulting in the pier having exposed reinforcing steel with accelerated corrosion and concrete spalling at piles, beams, joists, and reflective overhead flat plates. Because of this, extensive structural concrete restoration was needed. Repairs were eventually completed using shotcrete struck and finished in alignment with pre-existing materials making up the pier.

The pier was a filming location for the 2021 comedy-drama Red Rocket. The pier was also featured in the 2022 animated comedy Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe.

Attractions

Features at the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier include:

• Iron Shark — a steel roller coaster constructed by Gerstlauer, a 100 ft tall coaster offering four inversions with a back section cantilevering over the water.
• Sky Shooter — airborne shot ride.
• Texas Star Flyer — swinging riders over the water 230 feet above the Gulf.
• Galaxy Wheel — a 100-foot-tall Ferris wheel, featuring programmable LED lights.
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant.

Current Attractions

References

References

1. Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier. "Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier". Facebook.
2. Kaplan, David. (January 28, 2012). "Historic Galveston amusement pier to rise again". [[Houston Chronicle]].
3. Aulds, T.J.. (January 28, 2012). "Landry's Corp. is close to revealing plans". [[The Daily News (Texas).
4. (January 28, 2012). "Landry's set to unveil Galveston Pleasure Pier plans". [[American City Business Journals.
5. MacDonald, Brady. (February 9, 2012). "Galveston Pleasure Pier brings thrill rides back to Texas coast". Los Angeles Times.
6. Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier. (May 23, 2012). "HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT...". Facebook.
7. "Archived copy".
8. "Concrete Pier, Shipping Dock & Boat Dock Repair & Restoration | Epoxy Design".
9. Shey, Brittanie. (2021-10-06). "Houston-Area Restaurants Appear in Trailer for 'Red Rocket,' Lauded Indie Director Sean Baker's Newest Film".
10. Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier. (October 28, 2011). "Construction...". Facebook.
11. "Kiddie Wheel 6".
12. (15 March 2012). "Pleasure returns to Galveston Island". Park World Magazine.
13. "Bertazzon Rock-N-Roll Matterhorn".
14. "Airborne Shot 10".