The Ultimate Guide to the Folly Beach Pier
Keep walking towards the Ocean from the aptly named Center Street - the spine of the City of Folly Beach - up and onto the wooden planks of the nearly quarter-mile structure, above pounding waves, and you might agree with the laughing goals that the pier is the must-visit heart of Folly. Out here on the Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier at 101 East Arctic Avenue, the horizon opens wide, the salt breeze invites a long, easy breath, and coastal life slows down to a welcoming pace.
Whether you are coming down for a quiet morning walk above the waves, bringing a grandchild to rent a fishing rod, sharing a basket of fried shrimp over the sand, or cooling off with an afternoon ice cream cone, the pier makes it simple to enjoy the ocean. Walking onto the pier is completely free during operating hours, with separate fees only if you park a car in the entrance lot or purchase a fishing pass. Right at the landward plaza, you also have oceanfront dining at Koko's on the Pier, the Gangplank Gift & Tackle Shop, accessible restrooms, outdoor rinse showers, outdoor changing rooms, shaded picnic tables, and boardwalk access to the beach.
Jump to: 📜 History & Rebuild • 🎣 Fishing &; Rules • 🍦 Gangplank Shop & Ice Cream • 🍹 Koko's Dining & Music • 🏖️ Beach & Day-Trip Facilities • 🌅 Sunrise & Sunset • 📌 Pier at a Glance • 🕒 Hours, Parking & Pets • 🏡 Stay Nearby • ❓ FAQs
Nearly a Century of Folly Beach Pier History
When you walk out over the breakers today, you are stepping into nearly a century of pier history that has anchored Folly Beach since the 1930s. Knowing how the pier was rebuilt for the future and how its earlier chapters unfolded makes the view from the railing even more meaningful.
Built for the Future: The 2022 Concrete-and-Wood Rebuild
On December 26, 2022, Charleston County Parks reopened the newly rebuilt Folly Beach Pier ahead of schedule after a complete ground-up replacement. Engineers anchored the modern structure on concrete pilings and a concrete substructure built for long-term durability in the Atlantic surf, while topping it with classic wooden walkways and wooden railings.
The result gives you the warm, familiar feel of a traditional wooden pier with wide-open ocean sightlines. Along the promenade, two covered mid-pier fishing bays provide shaded benches and accessible picnic tables before the deck opens onto the spacious Diamond Head platform at the far ocean end. When you walk out to the Diamond Head and look back toward the beach, you can truly appreciate how far out over the Atlantic waves you have traveled.
The 1930s Boardwalk Era and the 1995 Wooden Pier
Folly's original green-and-white palmetto-log pier and the neighboring Atlantic Pavilion opened in 1931 right at the end of Center Street, welcoming visitors to an oceanfront of big-band dances, boardwalk amusements, and salt air. Beginning in June 1934, composer George Gershwin spent six weeks down the beach in a rented Folly cottage while composing Porgy and Bess, a chapter of island history we explore in Golden Age of Folly: From Amusement Park to Surfer Paradise.
Two fires reshaped that early boardwalk era: a fire destroyed the Atlantic Pavilion in 1957, and a second blaze consumed the original wooden pier in 1977.
On July 4, 1995, Charleston County Parks opened the wooden Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier. For twenty-five years, that timber structure served as a beloved gathering spot for anglers and beach walkers until wood-boring mollusks weakened its submerged wooden pilings, leading to its closure in October 2020 for the modern replacement that stands today.
Fishing the Pier: Bring Your Gear or Just Show Up
Fishing on the Folly Beach Pier can be wonderfully simple. Whether you are bringing your own tackle or taking a grandchild out for a relaxed afternoon on the water, you can walk right up to the Gangplank Gift & Tackle Shop at the pier entrance to get your pass, rent a rod, and pick up frozen bait and tackle on the spot.
Because Charleston County Parks holds a blanket public pier license, no individual South Carolina recreational saltwater fishing license is required when you fish on the Folly Beach Pier. That makes pier fishing an easy choice for visiting families and casual anglers; just note that anyone age 16 or older who fishes from the surf or beach sand below still needs an individual state saltwater fishing license.
Up on the pier, anglers purchase a daily pier fishing pass or an annual pier fishing pass at the Gangplank counter; the published 2026 daily rates are $7 per adult and $4 per person for children 12 and under, seniors 60 and up, active-duty and retired military with ID, and groups of 10 or more. Full-day rod rentals are offered at the shop for $15 plus a $25 deposit; ask the staff at the counter about rod rental availability when you arrive.
Depending on the season and tide, anglers casting around the pilings and off the Diamond Head platform reel in sheepshead, whiting, flounder, red drum, and Spanish mackerel. Accessible saltwater fishing areas are integrated along the rail as well. Even if you are strolling with a coffee or an ice cream cone rather than a rod, walking past the stations is part of the fun. Leave plenty of room for anglers to work, watch for hooks and lines, and enjoy the lively suspense along the rail whenever someone starts reeling in a catch.
Pier Fishing Rules: Here Is Your Sign
You can spot the posted fishing rules right on the pier railing sign and review the complete rules through Charleston County Parks. Here are the essential rules for every angler on the boards:
- Visible Pass Required: Every angler must purchase a pier fishing pass and keep the wristband visibly attached at all times.
- General Rod Limit: The general pier-fishing limit is two attended rods per person; specialty king mackerel trolley rigs have separate rules, so check with staff about those setups.
- Keep Rails and Stations Clear: Fishing rods not in active use should be placed in holders rather than leaned along the rails, and coolers or gear may not occupy adjacent fishing stations.
- Use Bait Cutting Stations: Cut bait only at the provided bait-cutting stations, never on the wooden railings or benches.
- Bottom-Fishing Tackle Limits: For bottom fishing, hooks must be size 4/0 or smaller, whole bait must be finger-mullet size or smaller, cut bait must be smaller than 2 by 2 by 2 inches, and wire or steel leaders are prohibited.
- No Shark Fishing: Shark fishing is strictly prohibited on the pier, and sharks are never permitted in landing nets.
- Landing Nets and Sunset Cutoff: Return pier landing nets to their designated areas after use and follow South Carolina Department of Natural Resources size and catch limits. Pack up lines by sunset, when fishing ends.
The Gangplank Gift & Tackle Shop: Souvenirs, Beach Snacks, and Ice Cream
The Gangplank Gift & Tackle Shop at the pier entrance welcomes everyone, whether you are heading out to fish, taking a midday stroll over the water, or spending the afternoon on the sand.
Inside the bright, airy shop, you can browse Folly Beach t-shirts, sunglasses, coastal keepsakes, and beach essentials right at the boardwalk entrance. The refreshment counter also stocks cold bottled water, fountain drinks, coffee, and savory beach bites like warm pretzels and nachos.
One of our favorite local touches is the ice cream counter inside the shop, right where you pick up your fishing pass. You can treat yourself or the kids to hand-dipped ice cream cones, cups, milkshakes, sundaes, and floats, with rotating seasonal flavors alongside classics like vanilla, chocolate, cookies and cream, and mint chocolate chip.
The Gangplank Gift & Tackle Shop operates as a cashless facility accepting card payments, and provides a no-fee cash-to-card kiosk on site if you are carrying cash. The shop counter closes 30 minutes before the pier's daily closing time, making it a great stop before an evening walk out to the Diamond Head.
Oceanfront Dining and Music: Koko's on the Pier and Moonlight Mixers
Directly across the boardwalk plaza from the gift shop sits Koko's Tiki Kitchen and Bar, also known as Koko's on the Pier. If you run across an older guide, it might mentions Pier 101 Restaurant & Bar. Koko's is the current oceanfront restaurant in that space.
Underneath thatched tiki shade and colorful umbrellas overlooking the Atlantic surf, Koko's serves a laid-back coastal menu of fried shrimp and flounder platters, steaming bowls of she-crab soup, smash burgers, tiki tacos, and loaded Koko Fries, paired with tropical cocktails, local craft beers, and zero-proof mocktails. It is an inviting spot to linger over lunch in the sea breeze or toast the end of a beach day.
Koko's on the Pier publishes daily hours of 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., which operate independently of the pier walkway and tackle shop hours. Check Koko's website for current menu offerings and seasonal hours when planning a meal. While outside alcoholic beverages are prohibited on the pier and the beach, drinks purchased from the on-pier restaurant or during ticketed pier events are permitted within posted rules.
Dancing Over the Atlantic: Moonlight Mixers
During the warm-weather season from spring into early fall, Charleston County Parks hosts Moonlight Mixers on the Folly Beach Pier on select Friday nights. A DJ or band fills the ocean air with shag and beach music while dancers take to the wooden deck under the stars. Current event dates and ticket details are published each season by Charleston County Parks.
Beach Time and Day-Trip Facilities Beside the Pier
The wide sandy beach beside the pilings is a wonderful place to unroll a towel, build a sandcastle, or spend an afternoon by the waves. Right on the sand next to the pier, you will also see beach volleyball nets set up with the island palms behind them, a classic part of Folly's active beach energy.
Day-Trip Facilities Right at the Pier Entrance
Many visitors love spending their beach day near the pier because the Folly Beach Pier facility puts essential comforts right at the top of the walkover:
- On-Site Paid Parking Lot: An entrance lot at 101 East Arctic Avenue with standard and accessible parking spaces.
- Accessible Restrooms and Water Fountains: Public restrooms and accessible drinking fountains at the entrance plaza.
- Outdoor Showers: Convenient rinse showers to wash salt and sand off your feet and gear after time on the beach.
- Outdoor Changing Rooms: Dedicated outdoor changing stalls right at the pier facility. Guests who have ever tried holding up a towel beside a car door to change out of a damp swimsuit appreciate having real changing rooms right off the sand.
- Picnic Tables and Accessible Ramps: Accessible picnic tables sit both in the shade underneath the pier and up on top of the pier deck, alongside a ramp to the park office and gift shop and an accessible route to the natural sand beach. Note that an accessible route to the beach leads onto natural sand rather than a paved path across the beach.
- Seasonal Lifeguards: County Parks lifeguards staff the designated swimming area near the pier seasonally rather than year-round.
When you head into the ocean, keep in mind that swimming and surfing are prohibited within 200 feet of the pier. Enjoy the water in a permitted swimming area outside that 200-foot buffer, check posted warning flags and daily lifeguard status through Charleston County Parks, and follow all lifeguard instructions. Keep glass and alcohol off the beach, fill in any sand holes before leaving, and step away from the water and outdoor showers if thunderstorms approach.
Sunrise, Sunset, and the View from the Diamond Head
Both sunrise and sunset are memorable from the pier, and each offers its own distinct view.
Sunrise is the Atlantic-facing view. Morning light breaks over the ocean horizon and shimmers across the wet low-tide sand and rolling surf. If you want to watch sunrise from up on the pier deck, compare the morning's sunrise time with the pier's seasonal opening hours: the gates open at 6:00 a.m. from April through October, 7:00 a.m. in March and November, and 8:00 a.m. in December, January, and February. In the winter months when dawn arrives before the pier opens at 8:00 a.m., you can enjoy sunrise right from the beach sand beside the pilings and walk up onto the boards once the gates open.
Sunset is the landward view. In the late afternoon, walk out toward the Diamond Head platform and look back toward Folly Island. From the far end of the pier out over the water, the beachfront silhouette of the island opens up as the evening sky glows warm amber, coral, and violet behind the rooftops and palms. Simply walk out over the rollers, look back toward shore, and enjoy the evening colors.
Folly Beach Pier at a Glance
Operated by the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission, the pier brings together ocean views, casual dining, saltwater fishing, and public beach comforts in one central spot.
| Feature | Planning Your Visit |
|---|
| Official Name & Location | Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier, 101 East Arctic Avenue, Folly Beach, SC 29439; pier phone (843) 762-9516 |
| Walking Admission | Free during operating hours to walk the pier; vehicle parking and fishing passes are charged separately |
| Seasonal Pier Hours | Apr to Oct: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Mar & Nov: 7 a.m. to Sunset; Jan, Feb & Dec: 8 a.m. to Sunset. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day |
| Parking Lot & Seasonal Rates | Standard vehicles (2026 daily rates): $5 in Jan, Feb, Nov & Dec; $10 in Mar & Oct; $15 in Apr & post-Labor Day Sep; $15 Mon to Fri and $25 Sat, Sun & holidays from May through Labor Day. No RVs or buses due to limited turning radius |
| Fishing & Rod Rentals | Daily fishing pass (2026 rates): $7 per adult; $4 per person for children (12 & under), seniors (60+), active-duty and retired military with ID, and groups of 10 or more; full-day rod rental $15 + $25 deposit; annual passes available. No individual SC saltwater license needed on the pier. Fishing ends at sunset |
| Shopping & Treats | Gangplank Gift & Tackle Shop offers souvenirs, shirts, sunglasses, snacks, cold drinks, and hand-dipped ice cream; cashless card counter (with a no-fee cash-to-card kiosk) closes 30 minutes before the pier |
| Oceanfront Dining | Koko's on the Pier (Koko's Tiki Kitchen & Bar), serving fried seafood platters, burgers, tacos, she-crab soup, and tropical drinks with outdoor oceanfront seating; published hours 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily |
| Beach & Accessibility | Accessible parking, ramp to park office and gift shop, accessible route to the natural sand beach, accessible restrooms, water fountains, outdoor showers, outdoor changing rooms, accessible picnic tables under and on top of the pier, sand volleyball nets, and seasonal lifeguards |
| Pet Policy | Service animals only on the pier. Leashed dogs are welcome on the beach sand all day Oct 1 to Apr 30, and before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. May 1 to Sep 30 |
| Walk from Chastain's Cottages | Our cottages sit six flat blocks east of the pier, making it an easy 15-minute walk west along East Arctic or East Ashley Avenue while your car stays parked at your cottage |
Seasonal Hours, Parking, Accessibility, and Pet Rules
Official Seasonal Operating Hours
Charleston County Parks adjusts the pier's daily operating hours across the calendar:
- January and February: 8:00 a.m. to Sunset
- March: 7:00 a.m. to Sunset
- April through October: 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (fishing ends at sunset)
- November: 7:00 a.m. to Sunset
- December: 8:00 a.m. to Sunset
The pier is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Current hours, fees, and special event notices are published by Charleston County Parks.
Parking at the Pier
The Charleston County Parks lot at 101 East Arctic Avenue uses seasonal daily rates for standard vehicles (as of 2026: $5 in January, February, November, and December; $10 in March and October; $15 in April and in September after Labor Day; and $15 Monday through Friday or $25 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from May through Labor Day), while walking in is free. Due to a limited turning radius in the parking lot, RVs and buses cannot be accommodated. If you hold a county park pass, confirm any applicable pass benefit with staff when you arrive, and if you use a municipal street space or another lot nearby, follow the posted signs and payment instructions for that space.
Dogs, Wheels, and Pier Etiquette
Keeping the distinction between the pier deck and the beach sand in mind makes planning easy, especially when traveling with a dog:
- On the Pier Deck: Only trained service animals are permitted on the Folly Beach Pier; pets are not allowed on the wooden walkway. Bicycles, skateboards, skates, scooters, smoking, vaping, tobacco, drones, and outside alcoholic beverages are also prohibited on the pier.
- On the Beach Sand Beside the Pier: The City of Folly Beach welcomes leashed dogs on the public beach all day from October 1 through April 30, and before 10:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. from May 1 through September 30 (dogs are not permitted on the beach between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. from May 1 through September 30). For more tips on traveling with your pup and enjoying the quieter months on the island, read Your Folly Beach Dog Guide and The Sane Seasons on Folly Beach.
The Six-Block Advantage: Walk to the Pier from Chastain's Cottages
Because walk-ins enter the Folly Beach Pier for free, staying six flat blocks east at Chastain's Cottages makes visiting the pier effortless. You can leave your car parked in your dedicated off-street space at your cottage and enjoy a flat, fifteen-minute stroll west along East Arctic or East Ashley Avenue (or walk right down the beach sand) whenever the pier calls.
Staying on our residential block gives you a wonderful balance: you are an easy walk from morning fishing, afternoon ice cream at the Gangplank, and oceanfront meals at Koko's, and when you are ready for quiet rest, you stroll six blocks back to your own porch where the evening soundtrack is the Atlantic surf.
The Cottages
Our family has been welcoming guests to this same block on Folly since the 1940s, and as the third-generation owner, I love helping visitors settle into the easygoing rhythm of the island. Every cottage includes dedicated off-street parking and welcomes dogs.
sleeps eight right on the oceanfront, with a gated beachside deck, private fenced yard, and a spiral-stair loft with a king bed tucked above the living area.
is a ground-floor apartment across the street from the beach, sleeping four, with its own private fenced yard.
is a quiet one, featuring a tree-level private deck reached through a small fenced courtyard, with an outdoor shower and grill included.
is a flat six-block walk to the pier and Center Street, sleeping six, the one property without a fenced yard but still very much dog-welcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is it free to walk on the Folly Beach Pier?
Yes. Walking out onto the 1,049-foot Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier is free during operating hours. Separate charges apply only if you park a vehicle in the paid entrance lot or purchase a pass to fish.
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Do I need a South Carolina fishing license or my own gear to fish on the Folly Beach Pier?
No individual South Carolina recreational saltwater fishing license is required when fishing on the pier because Charleston County Parks holds a public pier license, though a state license is required for anglers age 16 and older fishing from the surf or beach sand. To fish on the pier, buy a daily or annual pass at the Gangplank Gift & Tackle Shop, where frozen bait, tackle, and full-day rod rentals are also available; the published 2026 daily fishing rates are $7 per adult and $4 per person for children 12 and under, seniors 60+, active-duty and retired military with ID, and groups of 10 or more, while a full-day rod rental costs $15 plus a $25 deposit. Ask at the counter for rod rental availability when you arrive, and remember that fishing ends at sunset.
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What are the main fishing rules on the Folly Beach Pier?
Anglers must wear a valid pier fishing pass wristband visibly at all times; the general limit is two attended rods per person, with separate rules for specialty king mackerel trolley rigs. For bottom fishing, hooks must be size 4/0 or smaller, whole bait must be finger-mullet size or smaller, cut bait must be smaller than 2 by 2 by 2 inches, and wire or steel leaders are prohibited. Bait may only be cut at the provided cutting stations, intentional shark fishing is prohibited, sharks are never allowed in landing nets, and all fishing stops at sunset.
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What does the Gangplank Gift & Tackle Shop at the pier sell?
The Gangplank Gift & Tackle Shop carries gifts, souvenirs, refreshments, snacks, sundry items, and fishing supplies. Local visitor guides also list ice cream, although selections can change. The shop is cashless and closes 30 minutes before the pier.
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What is the restaurant on the Folly Beach Pier?
The restaurant at the pier entrance is Koko's on the Pier, also styled as Koko's Tiki Kitchen & Bar, which replaced Pier 101 Restaurant & Bar. Koko's offers outdoor oceanfront tiki seating and serves fried shrimp and flounder platters, she-crab soup, smash burgers, tiki tacos, loaded Koko Fries, tropical cocktails, craft beer, and zero-proof drinks, with published hours of 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily.
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Are bathrooms and showers available at the pier?
Yes. The pier facility provides restrooms, outdoor showers, and beach access. County Parks also lists accessible restrooms and water fountains, outdoor changing rooms, and an accessible route to the natural sand beach.
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Are lifeguards on duty near the pier?
Lifeguards staff the designated swimming area near the pier (swimming and surfing are prohibited within 200 feet of the pier structure ) seasonally rather than year-round, so always check the daily lifeguard schedule on the
Charleston County Parks pier page along with posted beach signs and warning flags when visiting
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Can you swim or surf near the Folly Beach Pier?
No. Swimming and surfing are prohibited within 200 feet of the pier structure. Visitors should swim only outside that 200-foot buffer in permitted areas.
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Where can visitors park for the Folly Beach Pier?
The Charleston County Parks paid parking lot at 101 East Arctic Avenue charges seasonal daily parking fees for standard vehicles (as of 2026: $5 in January, February, November, and December; $10 in March and October; $15 in April and post-Labor Day September; and $15 Monday through Friday or $25 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from May through Labor Day), and cannot accommodate RVs or buses. Walking onto the pier is free during operating hours. Guests staying at
Chastain's Cottages have dedicated off-street parking included at their cottage six flat blocks east of the pier, making it an easy 15-minute walk to the pier.
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Can dogs go on the Folly Beach Pier?
Only service animals are permitted on the pier. The beach has separate seasonal dog rules, so permission to bring a dog onto the sand does not mean that dog is allowed on the pier. See our
Folly Beach Dog Guide for more information on where you can take Fido on Folly Beach and when.
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Is the pier the same place as Folly Beach County Park?
No. The pier is at 101 East Arctic Avenue, where Center Street meets the Atlantic Ocean. Folly Beach County Park is a separate facility farther along West Ashley Avenue.
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Golden Age of Folly: From Amusement Park to Surfer Paradise
There is a six-mile barrier island eleven miles south of Charleston that locals call the Edge of America - and it earned the name twice. Geographically, Folly Beach is where South Carolina runs out of land. Culturally, it's where Lowcountry life runs out of pretense.
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