- Beachbook
- Coastal Review Online
- Dare County
- Duck
- Island Free Press
- Kill Devil Hills
- Kitty Hawk
- Manteo
- Nags Head
- Nighthawk News
- Southern Shores
- Bill's OBX Beach Life
- N.E.S.T Online
- Natural Outer Banks
- Red Headed Beach Girl
- Rosie Hawthorne
- See more local blogs »
Small turnout urges walk-on fee at Jennette’s
Thursday evening saw walkers and anglers.
About 25 people showed up for the hearing conducted by officials with the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which has authority over the state-run pier.
Almost all were members of the local Jennette’s Pier Advisory Board, local officials or pier staffers.
Six spoke in favor of charging a fee for walk-ons, in keeping with a promise the state had made not to compete with local piers. After Jennette’s opened, the state agreed to ask for donations.
The owners of Nags Head Fishing Pier and Outer Banks Fishing Pier, who have spoken out against the Jennette’s policy, were not at Thursday’s hearing. No one spoke in opposition.
Fees are charged for fishing, but state officials and others have argued that sightseers should be allowed on without a charge because it was made possible with public money.
Bob Muller, advisory panel chairman.
Muller and other speakers praised the pier project and its local impact, but urged the state officials to stick to their promise of not competing with private businesses — namely the two nearby piers, which charge walk-on fees.
Warren Judge, chairman of the Dare County Board of Commissioners, said that if the state was unwilling to change the policy, it should give the North Carolina Aquarium Society the discretion to do so if it turns operation of the pier over to the non-profit.
“We just feel it will help Dare County and Nags Head hold our heads high with promises we made based on promises made to us,” he said.
Written comments by mail or e-mail can be submitted until Aug. 23:
North Carolina Aquariums
3125 Poplarwood Court
Raleigh, NC 27604
Attn: David Griffin
admin@ncaquariums.com
See what people are saying:
Join the discussion:
You must be registered and logged in to post a comment.
- MOST READ
- MOST DISCUSSED
- Beach nourishment is a go in Kill Devil Hills
- Reward increased for fugitive Luis Rodriguez
- Gamefish legislation: Control or conservation?
- Dare budget request would hike tax rate 3.25 cents
- Community News & Announcements
- Business & Real Estate
- Forum focuses on pending flood insurance changes
- Gamefish legislation flounders in House
Franken Harpo says:
The Pier is great. How large a fee are they considering?
Obx local says:
I would say somthing in protest but I am pretty sure local politicans are not plugged into the internet contraption.
Barbara Walker says:
I think locals should be excempt or pay an extrememly nominal fee…the cost of living is already ridiculous for the working people of Dare County.
Melissa Shell says:
They make a killing off of the weddings and other special events they hold there. That’s absurd! If the original agreement was NOT to charge a fee for people who were NOT fishing, then how can they just change the policy? That’s just wrong! The pier was purchased and partially refurbished with public monies, so wouldn’t that be a breech?
member says:
If you already pay the yearly membership fee to the aquarium, you should get on the pier for free. It should be included in the annual membership.
Dare family says:
I think it is wrong to charge to go on the pier. I love going on there and if they start charging I will be upset. I will not pay to walk it. I think us locals should not have to pay. We need some kind of reward for living here.
gangneighbors says:
After it first opened I fished there on a regular basis, but it slowly became a new spot for tourists to walk free and groups! of teens to hangout, etc., etc., and the fun of fishing seemed like a byproduct. I no longer fish there. I will go back if they start charging the walkers who don’t pay a cent to hang out! It will also cut down on the children and teens running and hanging out which is distracting when you are trying to fish……
Tom Howard says:
However Melissa, not charging a fee would be competing against other piers, as the other piers charge money to walk on, if you can walk on for free at Jenette’s then you are going to go there and take away from the privately owned piers, which a non-compete was signed into the policy as well.
the OBX Beach Bum says:
I can certainly appreciate the non-compete agreement Jennette’s has with other local fishing piers and their desire to be good neighbors.
But charging a walk on fee is a completely different animal, in my opinion.
The other local private fishing piers are fully within their rights to charge people to walk on their piers, but like many others, I believe sightseers on Jennette’s Pier should be allowed to visit without a charge mainly because it was made possible with public money.
Since I refuse to pay to just walk on their piers, I just can’t get my head around or agree with the competition argument.
Is there really a competition for walk-on traffic?
I expect the free walk-ons increase Jennette’s other sales? If so, the other piers might learn something from that.
Here’s my stand, if Jennette’s were to charge a fee I wouldn’t pay them either. So who loses? Not the other piers, Jennette’s maybe, but the real person hurt is Me.
I’m not sure I understand all the politics involved, but I do want to weigh in with the opposition to the fee crowd which obviously didn’t know about the hearing last night.
Thank you.
Steve says:
I do not know much about the project. But if it is a public owned pier, then my tax money already covers my fee…
Maybe the private piers should offer a better incentive to charge walk-ons if the experience is so worthy to charge for the service. Or just don’t allow people to walk the piers… fishing access only.
I thought the whole purpose of a pier is to fish from it.
chris says:
WHy charge for something the state built with our taxes
Bob Muller says:
The issue is fairness to the other pier operators. When the pier was originally purchased the State of North Carolina agreed to charge fees that were comparable with the fees charged by existing pier owners. Before the pier was destroyed by Hurricane Irene they did exactly that. Now that the pier has been rebuilt the groups that participated in the pier purchase – the Town of Nags Head, Dare County, The Clean Water Management Trust Fund and the NC Aquarium Society are asking the state to honor those commitments.
One item readers may not know is that the Advisory Committee was originally told that a fee would be charged and was only told that sightseers would not charged a week before the pier opened.
junkman says:
Its interesting that the 2 other pier operators didn’t attend. If they don’t care enough to go the the meeting, then it must not be a big deal. These guys need to get real. Jennett’s pier is a great asset to both Nags Head and the entire area. It bring in tourists and related business. I’d bet Sam and Omie’s isn’t complaining, nor are other businesses nearby.
Rick says:
Does the Outer Banks and Nags Head piers really think that they are loosing money? I mean, Jennettes already asks for donations and I see that most people pay the $2.00. The other piers charge a $1.00 so it’s not for the fee that people walk on Jennettes. I doubt the majority of folks would walk on the other piers even if there was no charge, given their condition. They are run down, covered in fish slime and nowhere to sit down. Fine for people who come to fish but not for folks out for a stroll after eating out at a resturant. Personnally, I fish the other piers but when I’m just out for a stroll I go to Jennettes.
comfortablybum says:
It does seem like a lot of fuss over a little bit of traffic. How many people packed up the whole family to go walk out on the old piers? I would wager it stole more fishing business than walk ons. Even if they charge more for people to walk they will still get those guests because they have the parking and the aquarium exhibits. I think they should charge for parking. That would make everyone mad and make a ton of cash!
charlie says:
There seems to be a big fuss with little statistics. Commentators have brought up valid questions and thoughtful insights.
How much income is and was derived from walk ons by the private piers prior to and after the pier was built? If there is significant income damage to the piers then the arguement is for a fee.
The point is well made that folks who want to fish do not want to be annoyed by bystanders. This may have led to an increase of fisherfolks on the other piers. We do not know.
It appears that the pier’s fishing education portion gets lots of press. Perhaps they should include the benefits of the other piers in their talks? Being good neighbors helps all.
jackie harris says:
Welcome to the sham game, Here is here is how it works we use your money to build it and then charge you to use it!!. The Pier should stay FREE for walk on’s. I do not see why the Clean Water Fund that is also funded by Tax Dollars or the NC Aquarium Society would care if the fund is charged or not! the Aquarium is still making $$$ to promote there cause. It is strickly about $$$$$ and nothing else. Notice Ms. Cahoon is not pushing for the raise!.
Resident says:
I thought the whole debate is that it is illegal for any state-owned/run business entity to compete with privately-owned businesses.
Sounds pretty cut and dried to me. Jennette’s should be charging a walk-on fee.
eggcelent says:
If they start charging a walk-on fee like the private piers, then please make the cost of a pier pass for fishing more in-line with those piers as well. An annual pass is ~20% higher or more at Jennette’s.
Todd says:
If they start charging a walk on fee they won’t make as much money from the gift shop. Not as many people will visit the pier if they can’t walk on it for free. I’ve walked on the pier once. If there would have been a fee I would have never walked on it. The other piers should allow free walk ons with any purchase from their gift shop.
M says:
the aquarium is funded by our tax dollars… we still pay to enter. our tax dollars fund schools.. we still pay for breakfast, lunch, field trips, band instruments and every other area they can think of. our tax dollars fund toll roads… we still have to pay to use them. get over it people! taxes don’t cover everything! i agree locals should be able to get a discounted rate.. but as a local, i can’t say that i’ve ever been on the new pier except for when attending a wedding upstairs after it first opened… too crowded with tourists and tweens running amuck any other time! if i really felt the desire to walk on the pier, i’d pay a small fee. our tax dollars paid to bring this tourism generator here, no more. quit whining, walking on the beach is free (at least for now) if you’re so opposed to a fee.
M says:
but I will add, with the booming success of Fishheads, I doubt Gary Oliver is losing much sleep over Jeanette’s… survival of the fittest.
GREG H says:
Regardless of the debate pertaining to equal pier admission relating to the private piers,folks the free rides are coming to an end.A modest walk on charge can help with the up keep of the pier.Many of our National Parks and our state parks still charge admission despite being tax payor supported. Despite being a hot potato in Raleigh pertaining to the amount of money spent on the pier,most of us realize that this a major asset for Nags Head,Dare County as well as the State and all the visitors that come to the obx.I don’t know the number of people that have walked onto the pier since opening but I figure 99% will not object to a small fee.Donations are great but from my past experience with other projects there are many that do not donate.
Miss Faith says:
If they start charging a walk on fee at a STATE owned GUEST Center, does this mean they’re going to bring back the coin-operated stall doors of old, at all of our rest areas?
Jim says:
To begin charging a walk on fee at Jennette’s Pier is dishonest, underhanded,and stupid. But a governmental body is going to make the decision, so I guess we really should not expect anything different. I have vacationed for 30 years on the Outer Banks and owned a house in Nags Head for 10 years. Jennette’s Pier is a technological marvel and I enjoy walking on it. However, will I pay to walk on it? No. My taxes helped to build this pier and I assume my continued taxes will in some measure help pay to staff it, maintain it and feed those fish in the aquarium. The pier was proposed and built with public money and touted as being a public pier for people to walk on for their pleasure free of charge. To come in now and change the free walk on policy is a “bait and switch” that is so common from government. The decision makers should not rollover to the claims from two other nearby private piers that people aren’t paying to walk on their piers now that Jennette’s is open and free. People don’t pay to walk on those private piers because, quite simply, people don’t want to pay to walk. They wouldn’t pay to walk on Jockey’s Ridge, to walk the docks of Oregon Inlet at 4:30 pm to see the boats and fish coming in from the Gulf Stream, or to walk the waterfront in Manteo. If a walk on fee is put on Jennette’s there will be not one single additional paying walker heading for the private piers. A decision to put a walk on fee at Jennette’s would also be financially stupid. The thousands and thousands of souvenir buying tourists that visit that pier every week would simply stop coming if they could not witness, for free, the technological marvel that has been built 1,000 feet out into the ocean. Vacationing parents are not going to pay a walking fee for themselves and all of their children just for the pleasure of walking. That, in turn, will make the gift shop no better, different or any more attractive than the many, many gift and beach shops that line the bypass and beach road. There will be no reason to make the long trip down to milepost 16.5. The lobby of the gift shop will become used solely for access to bathrooms for people who are walking up off of the beach. Be smart and honest. Keep the pier free.
Steve says:
Once again the root of the problem is too many tourists.
We are not dependent on the hoards for our economy.
Business was just fine 25 years ago. Many of the businesses today serve no purpose here.
bchgrl says:
Steve…what is the point of your comment?
FF Rob says:
I’ll put my 2 cents in as a non-resident homeowner who goes to the OBX many times a year. Going to the pier has become a regular tradition for the family, just like climbing Jockeys Ridge. We do both each time we are in the OBX. We have spent our money supporting both locations with purchases of tee-shirts and other items. If they start charging to walk on, we just won’t go there anymore. I do not support the fact that if I walk onto a pier from a public beach, that I have to pay a fee. I provide financial support to them because I don’t have to pay a fee, but they will lose that if they start charging. I have never been to any other piers because of being charged to walk on them.
Mike Castano says:
Once again the comment section is filled with those who complain, but refuse to show up to voice their opinion in person when it matters. Just like our countries non-voters you have no one to blame but yourself for the result. People, “lead, follow or get the hell out of the way”!
James says:
All those $2 donations have gone towards the non-profit NC Aquarium Society. All those $200 fish plaques and $1500 bench sponsorships have gone to the NC Aquarium Society. All the revenue from the gift/tackle/snack shop goes to the NC Aquarium Society. The money was intended to support the Aquarium exhibits and programs. Where has the money gone? An article from the Voice and some transparency from the non-profit Society would be welcome and appreciated.
Betsy says:
I am opposed to a fee being charged to walk on Jennette’s Pier. We live in Va but own a home within walking distance of the pier and spend a lot of time in Nags Head. We love visiting the pier and are proud that our family bought us a plank on it. Our grandchildren have enjoyed the classes and the family fishing. Its now a tradition to walk on it with family and friends, usually have a hot dog and ice cream and buy something in the gift shop. It is an amazing structure that shows a positive use of taxpayer dollars. A fee being charged just to walk on it would definitely limit our visits. I understand that the fee to fish should be equal to other piers but this pier is so much more than a fishing pier and those in power ought to encourage visitors instead of charging them.
Local Gal says:
I strongly think that a fee should be charged for walk-on’s. When the pier was built they made a promise that they would charge for walk-on’s so that they did not put the other piers out of business. I think it is very wrong for them to break their promise and take business away from the other smaller piers!
Rich says:
I don’t get you people. Where were all of you when it was decided you had to pay a fee to go to the Wright Brothers Memorial (was no fee when I was a kid), now there are crazy fees to drive on the National Seashore Beach (not to mention all the closures for those rediculous birds). Anything government does they charge you for it and usually charge higher because who’s gonna stop them. I know the owners of both the other piers and they are just sick of this fight. They were promised something and the government then broke the promise (wow, there’s a surprise). If you don’t like the fees then don’t walk on the piers, at least then I can have more room to fish!
Concerned says:
@Jim
The pier was not billed as being free to walk on. They had their website up and running prior to opening and it had always listed the $2 fee. Suddenly 2 days before it opened the website was changed from a fee to a suggested donation. Yes, the government pulled the “bait and switch” but not in the direction you are thinking. Why are you surprised to be hit twice (taxes and fees). The government does it all the time. They tax your wages and then when you use what’s left to buy something they tax you again. Why is it that people think they deserve things for “free”.
Interconnected says:
Rrr! The local government is NOT charging to walk on a pier.
Rrr. The federal government IS charging to drive on the beach.
Damned if you do. Damned if you don’t.
I purchased two shirts with sparkly mermaids and two shirts with the pier image the last time I walked Jeanette’s pier. Grabbed some local take out to enjoy in the cool breezes. Was fun while it lasted, sniff-sniff (sadness).
Funny how A bunch of hoodlums who can throw, yes throw, fish on the deck, and that is okay. The hoodlum young fisherman can make a mess and be disrespectful and that is okay. However, it is those people walking and looking at the beauty that are the menace. Those darn walkers!
Easy. Ramp up the fee to fish also! That way other piers can “compete” with that there local socialism. You know, letting people do nothing more than walk and breathe on the government dime. I guess the next time I walk through a shop I should be charged for “looking around.”
–Dear local government, thank you for the few socialist moments my family enjoyed walking on your pier to see what great things the government can do to benefit the people. For once I, a tax slave, received something in return. Can’t have that anymore! Must pay.
People, do you even know what you want anymore? Or do you just enjoy complaining?
Betsy says:
Well said interconnected!!! Couldn’t agree more!