Almost all of us who have vacationed in coastal North Carolina — or other places on the East Coast, for that matter — have fond memories of the old, wooden fishing piers.
They are wonderful places, especially for families. For a reasonable fee, a family can spend a day fishing during the annual beach vacation. It’s a great introduction to fishing, both for adults and youngsters.
Fishing piers are a great place to meet people — to pick up fishing tips or just chat. There’s a camaraderie among those who fish the piers regularly.
And, even if you don’t fish, the pier is a popular place to visit. For about $2, you can go “sightseeing” for as long as you like on most fishing piers. Many of us probably remember evenings at the pier with the family — watching the sunset or the stars, perhaps eating ice cream purchased from the pier house.
Now those old wooden piers are becoming an endangered attraction along the coast. The years and coastal storms have not been kind to them.
Hatteras Island had three fishing piers for about a half century but is now down to just two — and one of them is threatened.
The Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier, known to all as the Frisco Pier, had been badly damaged by hurricanes and northeasters when it was sold by its owners to the National Park Service in 2013. The Park Service intends to tear down the pier, which is now so badly beat up that it is nothing but a dangerous nuisance.
The owners, Tod and Angie Gaskill, said at the time that they didn’t want to sell the pier.
?I think it?s a raw deal for Hatteras Island,? Tod Gaskill, a Hatteras native, told me for a blog in October 2013. ?It?s a landmark for the island, and I thought it should stay there.?
Gaskill said he had done all he could to get the Park Service to help rehabilitate the pier or to get the community interested in forming a non-profit to take it over, but nothing worked.
The Gaskills bought the pier after it was damaged by Hurricane Isabel in 2003. Tod said he bought it to try to save it.
?It was not to line my pockets,? Gaskill says. ?I knew the pier was not a money-making operation.?
He says he spent $400,000 to buy the pier and repair it. ?Not a soul put anything in it but me.?
?I never saw one dime out of the pier,? he added.
But the old wooden pier just kept getting battered by storms and parts of it fell into the ocean until he couldn’t afford to repair it any longer.
Now, the Rodanthe Pier is also threatened and its owners are struggling to bring it back from the brink of disaster.
Terry Plumblee and three partners bought the pier three years ago when it had fallen on rough times.
“It was in foreclosure, and we couldn’t see it just going away,” Plumblee said this week.
“It means a lot to people — not just in the community but all over the eastern U.S.,” he said.
Plumblee is retired from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard and lives in Shawboro in Currituck County. He is 57 and says he has fished on piers his entire life — in Morehead City, Atlantic Beach, and Emerald Isle.
He had been fishing on the Rodanthe Pier for about a decade when he bought it with three friends who felt as he did about the old place — Scott Truesdale, Mark McCarraher, and Sylvia Meads.
“It’s been a constant maintenance issue,” says Plumblee, who wryly describes the venture as a “high-priced hobby.”
Right after the partners bought it, Superstorm Sandy ripped about 120 feet off the end of the 720-foot pier.
But the owners got it all fixed up again, spruced up the pier house, and repaired the parking lot.
Rodanthe is one of the most dynamic of all places on this dynamic barrier island, so coastal storms and beach erosion have continued to take a toll. A northeaster in early December badly damaged the end of the pier.
Then came last week’s coastal storm. The winds gusted close to 70 mph for much of the day and night on Tuesday, Feb. 10, whipping up towering waves and turning the wintery gray ocean a frothy white with foam from the big breakers.
On Thursday, Feb. 12, Plumblee was watching when, about 1:30 or 2 in the afternoon, 80 feet of the pier fell into the ocean. The pier house was damaged and the parking lot and septic system were wiped out.
The owners already had a contractor on the site to begin work to repair the damage from December, and now the job is only bigger.
Plumblee guesses that it will take about $125,000 to $150,000 to get the pier back to what it was, but the owners intend to try. And they still want to be ready for this year’s planned opening day — Saturday, March 28.
“We’ll do the best we can,” he said. “But we probably won’t add the entire 80 feet back on.”
After all, the pier is important to the community and its visitors.
The owners have insurance on the pier house, but not the pier, which, if they could get it, would be prohibitively expensive.
To help with the cost of the repairs, Plumblee’s daughter, Jessi, has started a fundraising effort on the website, www.gofundme.
Apparently, a lot of folks in many places do care about the Rodanthe Pier because, as of this afternoon, the campaign has raised $8,720 from 199 people or families. The gifts have ranged from $5 up to $1,000.
Here’s a sampling of what some of those who have donated say about the pier:
- “For the past 5 years, we have vacationed at the Rodanthe Pier, and $100 a year barely expresses the joy and family memories that resulted. I am glad our family is in a position to help, and hope the pier will be ready for our upcoming trip this July.” From Dianne, Barry, and Dan, who gave $500.
- “This pier always will hold a special place in our hearts we got married on the beach right there almost five years ago glad to be able to help out to keep it standing strong.” Aubrey and Dan Kovolenko, who donated $20.
- “I’ve enjoyed fishing the pier the past two years. Have met some great people and learned a lot from them. Wish I could be there in person to help!” Tim Coalmer, who donated $100.
- “We are happy to donate and help to get the Rodanthe Pier rebuilt. As homeowners in Avon, we love Hatteras Island and want to see the wonderful attractions such as Rodanthe Pier continue to prosper for families and generations to come. We have wonderful memories of fishing on the pier.” Liz Rollins, who donated $50.
- “The Rodanthe Pier has always been the happiest place on the earth for me. I’ve been going there for almost 50 years now…so sorry to hear of this recent damage.” Mark S., who donated $25.
- “Been going there for over 20 years wish I could give more! Love the Rodanthe Pier and the new owners!” Kathy and Jimmy Tyree, who gave $20.
- “My entire family has enjoyed many great days on the pier, fishing, talking and just having fun.” Stella and Stuart Vines, who gave $100.
- “Help Keep the Outer Banks Alive. If this pier dies, so will a piece of what makes this island’s heart beat.” Gary Moore, who gave $5.
- “I have had so much fun on this pier over the years! It would be a downright shame to not see it rebuilt. I hope everyone who has ever been to Rodanthe or the Outer Banks will contribute to this effort. Wish I could give more.” Michael McClary, who gave $100.
- “I’ve been going to this pier since I can remember and my parents there before me. I hope the rebuild is fast approaching! Sending luck from PA!” Alyshia Toothman, who gave $25.
- “Rodanthe strong!” Cynthia Maupin, who gave $15.
“It’s humbling that so many people care so much,” said Terry Plumblee, who added that the owners have some money “put away” and hope that, with a little help, they will be open for another season.
Old wooden fishing piers that jut hundreds of feet out into the ocean might not be a great moneymaking venture and probably will, in the long run, become extinct.
But not the Rodanthe Pier. Not now.
IF YOU WANT TO HELP
If you want to donate, go to http://www.gofundme.com/m95yv0.
For more information, go to the Rodanthe Pier website at http://www.rodanthepierllc.com/.
