Iconic Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach has been closed temporarily and the City has reallocated funds to perform storm-damage repairs.
“The City Council recently approved the reallocation of funds to repair additionally identified storm damage to the Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach,” said City spokesperson Tyler Becker. “Storm and high-surf damage earlier this year broke multiple piles and other structure elements in the public portion of the pier, which is the area to the west of the Crystal Pier Hotel cottages. This area has been closed for public safety since December 2023.”
To fund this work on Crystal Pier, Becker noted the City’s Parks and Recreation Department is reallocating a total of $1 million of Regional Park Improvement Funds from two existing Capital Improvement Projects. Funding includes $705,000 from the Mohnike Adobe and Barn Restoration project and $295,000 from the Sunset Cliffs Park Drainage Improvements project.
“The movement of funds out of these projects will not impact their progress because the bidding process is not expected to take place until March 2025 for the Mohnike Adobe and Barn Restoration project and February 2026 for Sunset Cliffs Park Drainage Improvements project, at the earliest,” said Becker. He added, “Staff will work to identify the necessary replacement funding for each project before either is advertised for bidding.”

Now that reallocated pier funding has been approved by the City Council, Becker added staff from the City’s Engineering and Capital Projects Department will soon begin the process of initiating an assessment of the pier to determine the scope of work to address active emergency needs. “Additional work to fix non-emergency damage, like replacing structural braces that were damaged in various 2023 storms, is expected to take place after the emergency project is complete,” noted Becker, who added details on the anticipated work and timeline for Crystal Pier repairs are not available at this time. 

An inspection report previously produced by an engineering firm hired by the City determined there are dozens of defects that need to be fixed to ensure the future long-term stability of Crystal Pier. Those reportedly include missing and broken horizontal braces, missing and broken cross braces, and disconnected braces. 

Another engineering firm, JILK Heavy Construction, also assessed the middle section of Crystal Pier, owned by the City but leased back to the Allen family. That report noted dozens of defects including 25 missing braces, four broken braces, and eight brace re-bolts. 

There is a “closed for maintenance” sign posted on a fence partitioning off the end section beyond the cottages of Crystal Pier, which turns 97 years old this year. 

Crystal Pier Hotel & Cottages 

The 872-foot-long Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach is a no-permit-necessary fishing zone, a sought-after vacation destination, and one of the best places to watch San Diego sunsets. 

The pier’s history began in 1924 with a local realtor named Earl Taylor, who needed an attraction to make Pacific Beach more desirable to home buyers. 

Since it was dedicated in 1927, the iconic landmark at 4500 Ocean Blvd. has had numerous owners, two names, a ballroom, a carnival, and 270 more feet. It was once known as Pickering’s Pleasure Pier. The “Cottages on the pier“ built in 1930, have a history of guests enjoying the unique experience of sleeping over the ocean. 

The pier has had a bumpy ride as its construction, which began in the early 1920s, progressed in starts and stops. At one time in its history, the Crystal Pier housed a long area of carnival-like attractions leading to the newly constructed Crystal Ballroom. Both lasted for only three months before closing. 

Despite the history of changing ownership and storm damage over time, Crystal Pier has endured and been family-owned since 1961. The pier property is also unique as it is joint-owned by the City of San Diego and the Allen family. Current owner Willis Allen’s father purchased the eastern portion of the property in 1961, trading a Riverside County ranch in Murrieta for it. 

Current pier ownership has been split between the Allens and the City of San Diego since 1961. The Allens own the pier section from the entrance over to the median high tide line, and the City owns the rest, including the now temporarily closed section. 

There are now 32 Cape Cod-style pier cottages that the Allen family operates. The eastern part of the pier not touching the ocean is private property. The rest is owned by the City, which leases the middle section to the Allen family. 

“A Short History of Crystal Pier” by John Fry is available for purchase at Crystal Pier Hotel or by email at [email protected].