Balboa Pier
Encyclopedia
The Balboa Pier is one of two piers located in the city of Newport Beach, Orange County
, California
. It is located in a part of Newport Beach called the Balboa Peninsula.
The Balboa Pier was constructed in 1906 as a sister project of the Balboa Pavilion
. The Newport Bay investment Company wanted to attract lot buyers to an undeveloped spit of sandy land now called the Balboa Peninsula. In order to do so, they built both the Balboa Pavilion
and the Balboa Pier. These two structures were built to coincide with the opening of the southern terminus of the Pacific Electric Railway
Red Car line from Long Beach
to the Balboa Peninsula. The plan worked; multitudes of beachgoers flocked to Balboa and many purchased lots.
The pier is a popular fishing spot. The fish caught from the pier consist mostly of mackerel
and flounder
. Additionally, the pilings are home to a large population of starfish that feed on the large colonies of mussels growing there, and are easily spotted at low tide. Fishermen catching starfish by mistake are a relatively common sight.
In the 1980s, the first of Orange County's famous Ruby's Diner
restaurants opened on the pier. The 1940s nostalgia-themed restaurant has since become a famous Orange County landmark.
The pier was heavily damaged in the severe El Niño storms of 1998, which also destroyed the famous diamond-shaped Aliso Pier in Laguna Beach. One of the pillars was damaged, causing a partial collapse of one corner. The wooden posts have since been reinforced with steel sheathing and braces to prevent further damage.
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is located in a part of Newport Beach called the Balboa Peninsula.
The Balboa Pier was constructed in 1906 as a sister project of the Balboa Pavilion
Balboa Pavilion
The Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach, Orange County, California, is a state landmark. Established on July 1, 1906, the Balboa Pavilion played a prominent role in the development of Newport Beach by attracting real estate buyers to an area formerly designated as “swamp and overflow” land.The Balboa...
. The Newport Bay investment Company wanted to attract lot buyers to an undeveloped spit of sandy land now called the Balboa Peninsula. In order to do so, they built both the Balboa Pavilion
Balboa Pavilion
The Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach, Orange County, California, is a state landmark. Established on July 1, 1906, the Balboa Pavilion played a prominent role in the development of Newport Beach by attracting real estate buyers to an area formerly designated as “swamp and overflow” land.The Balboa...
and the Balboa Pier. These two structures were built to coincide with the opening of the southern terminus of the Pacific Electric Railway
Pacific Electric Railway
The Pacific Electric Railway , also known as the Red Car system, was a mass transit system in Southern California using streetcars, light rail, and buses...
Red Car line from Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
to the Balboa Peninsula. The plan worked; multitudes of beachgoers flocked to Balboa and many purchased lots.
The pier is a popular fishing spot. The fish caught from the pier consist mostly of mackerel
Mackerel
Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of fish, mostly, but not exclusively, from the family Scombridae. They may be found in all tropical and temperate seas. Most live offshore in the oceanic environment but a few, like the Spanish mackerel , enter bays and can be...
and flounder
Flounder
The flounder is an ocean-dwelling flatfish species that is found in coastal lagoons and estuaries of the Northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.-Taxonomy:There are a number of geographical and taxonomical species to which flounder belong.*Western Atlantic...
. Additionally, the pilings are home to a large population of starfish that feed on the large colonies of mussels growing there, and are easily spotted at low tide. Fishermen catching starfish by mistake are a relatively common sight.
In the 1980s, the first of Orange County's famous Ruby's Diner
Ruby's Diner
Ruby’s Diner is a restaurant chain that reproduces the look and feel of the classic American Diner. Bright red vinyl booths, white Formica tables, soda fountains, milkshakes, burgers, antique Coca-Cola posters and commercial art echo the Swing Era of the 1940’s...
restaurants opened on the pier. The 1940s nostalgia-themed restaurant has since become a famous Orange County landmark.
The pier was heavily damaged in the severe El Niño storms of 1998, which also destroyed the famous diamond-shaped Aliso Pier in Laguna Beach. One of the pillars was damaged, causing a partial collapse of one corner. The wooden posts have since been reinforced with steel sheathing and braces to prevent further damage.
External links
- http://www.balboapavilion.com/history.html (Section 4c of this article contains photos and data related to the pier).
- http://www.pierfishing.com/pier_of_the_month/balboa.html
- http://www.newportbeachpostcards.com/1.htm
- http://www.newportbeachpostcards.com/14.htm