Built in 1962 by local Florida businessman Richard Stottler, the Cocoa Beach Pier (originally known as “Canaveral Pier”) is a historical landmark on the legendary Space Coast in Florida. The Pier was built with more than 2.5 miles of boardwalk planks and 270 pilings, and reaches 800 feet into the Atlantic Ocean for an unparalleled view.
Longtime locals remember driving their cars onto the Pier itself when it first opened. People enjoyed the “grandstand seat” offered for viewing Mercury, Apollo and Space Shuttle launches at nearby Cape Canaveral (known as “Cape Kennedy” between 1963 and 1973). The Pier was even visited by famous astronauts like Alan Shepard, the first American in space.
Regardless of the season and changes brought through the years, the Pier has remained a favorite destination for Florida locals and tourists.