With a gentle breeze blowing across the beach and brown pelicans soaring through the air on a picture-perfect Outer Banks day, state and local officials gathered with North Carolina Aquarium directors and others to begin the construction of the North Carolina Aquariums Jennette’s Pier with a ground breaking ceremony.

After years of planning, securing funds and the signing of House Bill 628 by Governor Perdue, many in attendance at the May 22nd ground breaking seemed to share the same smile of accomplishment. The common theme was reflected in this statement, “This is a great day for Nags Head, the Outer Banks and all North Carolinians as we break ground on the site of the original Jennette’s Pier. 70 years ago today on May 22, 1939 Jennette’s Pier opened its doors for business on this exact site,” said Aquarium Division Director David Griffin. Governor Perdue stated, “We are here to celebrate the fact that a rich part of our coastal history also will be a rich part of our state’s future. With the construction of Jennette’s Pier, North Carolina will create 555 on-site jobs and 1,250 more off-site jobs-with an economic impact of more than $14 million. And that’s just by building it! When we’re finished, North Carolina will have a landmark that increases tourism, gives visitors and locals a great place to fish and take their families, and a pier that provides learning opportunities and boosts beach access so more people can enjoy our wonderful coast. This pier has been a landmark for generations, and today we’re making sure it stays a landmark for generations to come.”

Along with the Governor, State Senate Pro-Tem Marc Basnight, Representative Tim Spear, Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Dee Freeman; Nags Head Mayor Renee’ Cahoon, Dare County Commissioner Chairman Warren Judge, Chairman of the North Carolina Aquarium Society Art Keeney, Division Director of the North Carolina Aquariums David Griffin and Director of the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island Joe Malat each took their turn at the podium echoing and reiterating the importance of the North Carolina Aquariums’ Jennette’s Pier project.

The Aquarium Division of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will construct the pier with funds from existing non-General Fund receipts of up to $25 million. The funding will come from admission receipts, private funds, and a storm water pilot project to clean up state-maintained ocean outfalls.
Jennette’s Pier is the oldest fishing pier on the Outer Banks. To rebuild this historic landmark, the Aquarium Society purchased the property and transferred it to the State of North Carolina.

For more information about the North Carolina Aquariums’ Jennette’s Pier, contact:
C.P. “Buster” Nunemaker, III
Public Relations Coordinator
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
P.O. Box 967
Manteo, N.C. 27954
252-473-3494 ext. 243
buster.nunemaker@ncdenr.gov