1. Unidentified women horsing around on the beach (courtesy of Bill Bryan); 2. Built in 1960, the cement pier and boardwalk replaced the old wooden structures (courtesy of Bill Bryan); 3. A 1968 postcard of the Folly Beach pier (courtesy of a private collection); 4. Marie Creech at the pier in the 1950s (courtesy of Jimmy Creech); 5. A circa-1930 brochure (courtesy of Bill Bryan); 6. This 1946 photo taken by Ronald Reilly from the pier was used in a brochure for “Coast Week” in 1984 (courtesy of Bill Bryan); 7. Postcard of the Ocean Plaza development in the 1960s (courtesy of Bill Bryan); 8. A postcard of the pier and pavilion from the 1950s (courtesy of Bill Bryan); 9. Sam and Bessie Yatrou, employees of the pavilion’s soda fountain in the 1950s (courtesy of Jimmy Creech); 10. Folly Pier with white roof in the 1960s (courtesy of Robert Knight); 11. The pier, circa 1958 (courtesy of Bill Bryan).
The timeless wooden structures that became the very definition of Folly Beach
Folly’s pier was an institution—the most memorable fixture on the island. It jutted into the Atlantic at high tide. It was not as elevated as the present fishing pier, but was built a little closer to the ocean. When rough seas came along, the water was mesmerizing as the waves came roaring ashore.
The dance floor was enormous. The pier itself was dark. Spanish moss was often draped from the rafters. There was a big stage for the band. Nothing was more romantic than a dance at the pier, especially if there was a full moon. All the big bands played the pier, and during the rock era, the trend continued. Among the entertainers were Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, The Ink Spots, and Dinah Shore.
At the end of Center Street on the right was a large, open pavilion and bathhouse. The pavilion sold all the normal beach food—hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, sodas, and beer. There was always a jukebox playing on the pavilion and, of course, there was dancing. But the real place to shake a leg was the pier to the left of the amusement park, just a skip away down the rickety wooden boardwalk.
By the 1950s, as rock mania took hold, naturally the dances changed, too. But the shag was still the dance of choice, as it had been during the 1940s. Shagging at the beach had its genesis somewhere along the Grand Strand, probably Ocean Drive. But Folly was a shagger’s haven. Just like the pavilion at Pawley’s Island, the pier at Folly was the spot to strut your stuff. Of all the colorful dance halls along the coast, Folly’s pier clearly stood out. It had an atmosphere that was hard to beat. What young couple wouldn’t succumb to the unbeatable combination of sea, sand, and suds? (Even if the beer served on tap was Pabst.)
The pavilion went up in a blaze in April 1957. Its replacement was built in a matter of months and was much smaller than its predecessor. It was new and bright and clean, but lacked the faded appeal of the old building.
Pier Review
Like the pavilion, the original Folly Pier and its enormous dance floor burned in 1957. A new pier and boardwalk, complete with amusement park rides, concession stands, and a roller rink, were built in the early ’60s as the Ocean Plaza. Another fire claimed the structures in January 1977; arson was suspected, reported The News & Courier. Nearly two decades later, Charleston County Parks bought the beachfront property, creating the 1,045-foot-long Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier that opened on July 4, 1995. In the fall of 2020, due to wood-boring mollusks that threatened its integrity, the pier was reconstructed with concrete pilings and reopened to the public in December 2022. The landmark remains a popular destination for fishing (Cast Off Tournament Series on June 22), dancing (Moonlight Mixer on June 14), and simply taking in the vista from the Edge of America.
