Folly Beach Pier

Folly Beach Pier stretches about a thousand feet into the Atlantic from the foot of Center Street, making it the focal point of the island. Anglers line the railings at most hours, fishing for redfish, flounder, and whiting, while non-fishing visitors come for the views and to watch the surfers in the breaks on either side.

The pier is particularly worth visiting at sunset, when the light falls flat across the water and the silhouettes of the fishermen give the scene a certain southern gothic quality. There is a modest admission fee for the pier itself; the beach on either side is free. Parking on Center Street fills up fast in summer — arrive before 9am or after 5pm.

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The current pier replaced an earlier structure that stretched much further into the ocean — its predecessor was known as the "Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier" and was destroyed by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. The rebuilt pier is significantly shorter but has become the social centrepiece of the island, and the views from the end at sunset over the South Carolina coast are genuinely fine.