Favored SoCal Pier Reopens After $2 Million Restoration Project

PACIFIC BEACH, CA — San Diego fully reopened a historic pier, over 18 months after the public portion closed due to damage from a succession of storms. It took over $2 million to make the repairs to the 100-year-old local landmark, according to the city.

It has been almost two years since the outright closure of the Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach, according to city officials. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria had this to say about the reopening feat.

"After months of extensive repairs, the City of San Diego has fully reopened Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach. Thank you to our City crews and contractors who made this possible, and to the community for your patience during the closure. Come take a walk, cast a line, or just enjoy the view."

The shuttered portion, beyond the Crystal Pier Hotel, underwent extensive stabilization work.

San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava spoke on the restoration project.

"The iconic Crystal Pier will once again be open to the public thanks to the collaborative and dedicated efforts of city staff and Bill and Claudia Allen from the Crystal Pier Hotel," LaCava said. "While the pier is open and structurally sound, work will continue to strengthen its resilience against rising tides and increasingly intense storms."

The first phase of emergency construction work on the nearly 100-year-old pier began in January 2024, when crews replaced dozens of damaged or broken braces supporting the wooden structure. Those repairs were completed in May 2024.

While that work was underway, choppy waves damaged or broke eight of the pier piles. A second phase of emergency work to repair or replace those piles commenced in late 2024 and was completed in March 2025. Following the completion of the emergency construction, crews shifted their focus to non-emergency work, repairing and replacing the remaining damaged braces, according to a city statement.

All of the above work was focused on the publicly owned portions of the pier.

The Crystal Pier Hotel owns the easternmost half of the broader section of the pier, and any repairs in that section are the responsibility of the property owner. The hotel property continually maintains the cottages and its portion of the pier, General Manager Julie Neal told Beach & Bay Press in a recent article.

Now, guests can walk to the end.

The hotel remains open, at the western end of Pacific Beach, where it has stood for nearly a century. According to the hotel's General Manager, Julie Neal, "Where else can you sleep over the ocean? It's one of a kind in the U.S."

No additional construction is currently planned for the pier; however, staff will continue to monitor the structure for any potential future damage.