This was the focal point of most Pensacola Bch surfer’s lives in the 1970’s. The thing that comes to mind when I look at this (besides how rickety it was) is how there weren’t many rules. Many days, especially in the off season, the pier was closed – often, the chain link gates were left wide open. If they were closed, you could easily climb over them, or squeeze between them. It was never a big deal. Everyone jumped off the pier to avoid the winter paddle outs, though hitting the water was quite a shock on those super cold days. Apparently, liability just wasn’t much of an issue – look closely at the guys sitting on the railing and wood plank.
It’s amazing this pier lasted through ANY storms. At times sections would collapse, and they would be replaced. On the really big days you could be out on the end, watching, and feeling, the sets breaking on the second, and even third sandbars (the old pier was shorter than our current pier). It was a bit unnerving at times, because the pier would sway when it got pounded.
After Hurricane Opal in ‘95 we had no pier – for, I believe, close to 5 years. That was strange.