Apache Pier — Attraction in South Carolina

Decided to go to the apache pier to do some fishing after going to the local bait and tackle store for Intel. What I experienced was by far a first for me. I have fished piers up and down the east coast including in Virginia where I live. I arrived at the pier shortly after they opened at 6am. I was informed of the rod limit rule however I was not offered the ability to fish for kings as it appears that'd only for those staying st the campground. I went to the end of the t and started fishing. As the morning progressed people started showing up to fish for kings in the designated area. However one guy wanted to king fish outside of the area and was using the wrong gear. He kept throwing his anchor line over my line because he was using a 5 ft boat rod. After not being able to throw straight he calls his buddy who works at the pier. The employee comes down screws a sign in under my pole that stated no casting from the yellow rail. The next time I cast he comes over and tells me I can't do that because of the sign. I proceeded to call him out about screwing the sign in underneath my pole but allowing the guy who called him to do the very same thing. I also informed him the sign said yellow rail and the rail wasn't yellow like other areas of the pier. He them tried to lie and say the end of the pier rail was replaced recently due to TS Debbie. I told him I was gonna continue to cast as long as the rail wasn't yellow. Girlfriend wanted to go on the beach but wasn't allowed despite paying for parking, me paying to fish and her paying to fish. They do not let you know at the gate house that the beach is only able to be used by people staying there which is very deceptive. Many of the locals on the pier were extremely rude and the employee who put up the sign was confrontational and rude. The staff inside seemed nice but due to the behavior of the one employee screwing a sign up and trying to tell me I couldn't fish the way I had all day plus the behavior of the locals on this pier is enough to ensure that I will not be returning to this pier, not when there are 6 other piers I can take my business to in...

Went to north Mrytle beach was removed by staff member, that stated Apache Pier own the beach, and since we blocked someone's lot we had to move. We insisted on moving vehicle and the rest of family staying on beach, but staff member stated "we own the beach and to move". Witnesses came forwarded and confronted the staff member stating the beach is owned by the state not by Apache Pier. We were escorted off the beach were we met the attending supervisor, who told us we should've asked at the front window where additional parking was, just in case the parking lot was full. I stated there should be a notice informing clients where additional parking would be in case of parking lot being full. I told both supervisors who insisted the whole problem was illegal parking, by blocking lot and not using pier, i told them i would personally apologize to the renter we blocked in. I asked again do u guys own the beach we are getting thrown from and the supervisor answer was "no the state owns it,and we should not have been told to leave the beach". After i stated I was going to the public media with how we were being treated. The staff member apologized for telling us to leave the beach and he wasn't sure of the rules. The four children ages 10 to 13 witnessed the whole ordeal and questioned why we were treated in such a way, "was it because of our race?" This was the first time in my 38 years living I experienced such discrimination. I want to bring this to the public's attention and warn others of how Apache Pier judges and treats individuals of other races! That apology was insincere and was not accepted. Apache Pier S.C. needs to take more time and investment in training their employees and staff members. This would've been the fifth visit there, we normally fish from the pier as the kids swim at the beach, which also was stated was not unallowed & for residents renting or residing in Apache Pier. Will never visit this...

I'm not really one to leave a poor review for places, but I felt this was, at the very least, worth sharing. I've been a social recluse for most of my life, and I am currently learning how to be more outgoing, so this whole experience left me just feeling like an awful person. I drove up to the gentleman working the booth and inquired about walking on the pier for three people, myself and my parents. He instructed to just go straight forward. Nothing outright about any fee, so I assumed if there was any, we were meant to pay at the base of the pier. I asked if we could take our two dogs onto it as well, which he said no dogs were allowed on it. No problem, all my questions were answered. Halfway down to the pier, we were stopped by two associates, who questioned why we hadn't paid (I imagine they were informed over walkie talkies by the gateman). I apologized a few times, and they allowed me to turn around so I could pay. When I got back to the booth, the first thing I did was roll down the window to apologize to the gentleman there, only for him to calmly, but sternly, ask, "Why did you go through the gate?" As I was gathering my courage to respond, and my dad was explaining what had happened in more detail, he ignored and continued to ask the same question a few more times in the same tone. As I finally started to speak, he turned to go back into the booth, saying, "Have a good day." I get that there may be security in place to prevent people who intentionally try to get in without paying, and I'm not sure if he was just having a bad day, but did he really not even stop to consider that it was just an honest mistake? At that point, we agreed to just take off because the whole thing just left us all feeling shook. Didn't feel fair to just leave 1 star, considering I didn't even go on the pier, which...