Hilton Pier/Ravine

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The Hilton Pier/Ravine (often simply Hilton Pier) is a park in Newport News, Virginia. It is maintained by the Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. The pier was destroyed by Hurricane Isabel and has since been rebuilt.

1 Location
2 History
3 Offerings
4 References

[edit] Location

The Hilton Pier is located at the end of Main Street in Newport News, where the road meets the James River. It is adjacent to the Hilton School, and the school parking lot is the nearest lot to the park. This lot is off-limits to park visitors during school hours. Parking along the street is permitted, however.

[edit] History

The Hilton Pier was first built in 1918. The pier was a favorite spot for local recreational fishing for decades. On September 18, 2003, the pier was destroyed by the high winds and surging tides of Hurricane Isabel. Plans to rebuild the pier started almost immediately, but were met with controversy when it was revealed that a prominent member of the state legislature wanted the new pier moved several hundred feet from its previous location because it was near his house. The pier ended up being located about 40 feet away from the location of the original pier. It was reopened in May 2005, and on July 9 was formally rededicated by Joe Frank, the mayor of Newport News.

[edit] Offerings

There is a small beach at the location of the park, but nearby beaches are bigger and more properly maintained for use. The fishing is described as excellent at the pier. Croaker and trout are the fish primarily caught during the summer months. The pier is accessible to visitors in wheelchairs, a feature the 1918 pier lacked. It is approximately 410 feet in length.