The Garden City Pier – located in the community of Garden City Beach – is 668 feet long and stays open from March through December, sometimes 24 hours a day. It regularly hosts live bands during the summer and draws many fishermen. Originally known as the Kingfisher Pier, it was destroyed by Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and rebuilt in 1992, this time called the Pier at Garden City.
The Pier has earned accolades from visitors, who named it “The Best of the Beach” in a visitors’ poll conducted by a local newspaper, The Sun News. It was also voted “Best Pier” by locals in 2004 and again for five subsequent years from 2006 through 2010.
The pier has a tackle shop as well as an arcade and a small cafe. It is an old-fashioned, laid back place. At the end is a covered shelter where you can have a drink and listen to music on weekends. There is no fee to walk out on the pier, but you do have to buy a ticket to fish.
Garden City Beach is an unincorporated place located partially in Horry County and partially in Georgetown County. Since it’s only eight miles south of Myrtle Beach, it’s a popular day trip for many vacationing families.
More Pictures of Garden City Pier
Reflections on the Garden City Pier
Photographer Brian Abeling of Iowa, tells us, “We took our family on our first ever vacation to South Carolina. We stayed near the Garden City Pier and walked the beach every morning for a week and never tired of the sunrises like these…”
Photographer Jeb Brigman of Conway, took this photo in January 2008. Jeb writes, “It was a wonderful morning on the beach with the cool breeze and the playful gulls. Most of the day was covered with clouds but they broke for just a few seconds and I was able to get this shot. The pier itself is quite impressive. It has been voted best fishing pier in 2004, 2006, and 2007. With a rain shelter at the end and no charge to enjoy the pier it’s always a delight to head out there.”
Love Garden City, we had a place in Pirate Cove, right beside the Village Surf Shop until 1999. It was my second home; I still have to ride to Garden City and walk on the pier and have some ice cream at the Yum Yum Shop. When Hugo took out the Kingfisher, Garden City wasn’t the same, and then when they built the new one in 1992, it boosted Garden City to what it is today – a great place to visit with family
This pier is the cornerstone of my childhood. I spent 15 summers living in S.C. every year from the first 2 weeks in June. I learned so much about the ocean and how this beach was so nice. I loved this city so much I brought both of my husbands there. My dad retired to Murrells Inlet and he loved it. Kudos to the pictures.
When does karaoke start for the summer?
I was wondering who I could contact in regards to advertising a picture on the pier?
Garden City is my absolute favorite place to go when I’m in South Carolina. Its beautiful and not wild but a great place to relax and listen to live music and have a drink. Love the pier!
My husband and I love to take the kids here after a yummy lunch @ Sam’s Corner.
This picture of the Garden City Pier is absolutely beautiful. I can see why it won Picture of the Month. Great work, Nicole.