AMI City Pier — Attraction in Anna Maria island

Built in 1911, the Anna Maria City Pier welcomed visitors and residents to the island city arriving by steamship. The 776-foot-long pier accommodated paddle wheelers such as the Favorite and the Mistletoe prior to the construction of the first bridge from the mainland in 1922. The pier was commissioned by the Anna Maria Beach Company and was the brainchild of “Will” Bean, whose father homesteaded a large tract of land in 1893, and Charles Roser. Roser is credited by some with having developed the recipe (or baking process) for the famous Fig Newton cookie which he sold c. 1898 to the National Biscuit Company, now Nabisco. Bean and Roser built Anna Maria’s first church and bathhouse in 1913 on the Gulf of Mexico, along with cottages for their families and others. In a building barged down from Parrish, the city’s early promoters handed out flashy brochures of a young lady wearing a short dress, high heels, pearls, and holding a fishing pole reading “Anna Maria Beach, Florida’s Famous Year-round Resort.” Some of the island city’s first buildings survive today on Pine Avenue, a heritage area made possible by the construction of the Anna Maria City Pier over...

Since 1911... been a huge attraction for over 100 years. Visitors always love coming out, walking the pier, watching fishermen, and grabbing a bite to eat or a drink at the restaurant that sat at the end of the Pier. but sadly, all came to a stop in 2017 when the Pier was damaged by Hurricane Irma. The Pier had to be closed, completely demolished, and rebuilt. Luckily, all the hard work has come to an end, and as of 2020, the City Pier has re-opened as close to the original Pier that stood here before as possible.

A picturesque historic site where visitors have been sightseeing for decades. A visit to the City Pier is a must while on island time.

it was first used to drop off island “day trippers” coming by steamboat from St. Petersburg and the Mainland. At the end of the pier, you’ll find a restaurant and a gift shop. Grab an ice cream cone and relax or bring your fishing pole to catch your own dinner.

great place to see the sunset as well.

Entry: Free Parking: it’s near the pier, it’s limited parking but just wait for 5-10 minutes and you’ll...

Great place to bring your family to the beach. Many times parking can be a problem, since their designated parking near the pier only holds about 20 cars. Plan to drive around the streets looking for parking. The pier has been re-built and has a restaurant on the end to eat. Great food and decent prices. You can also fish on the pier. Many people sit around the outside of the restaurant along the walkway and cast for fish with jigs or fish baits on the bottom. Great sunsets. The beach is great for kids. My kids always seem to find sand dollars and crabs and hermit crabs along the shallow waters when it is low tide. Fishing is hit or miss and also depends on the tides and water temperature. That being said I have seen a variety of fish caught included a 7 foot hammerhead !! Have fun and enjoy your day...