Bob Hall Pier could reopen as soon as February, just in time for Barefoot Mardi Gras, after hurricane damage and years of construction delays.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — After more than four years of waiting, Bob Hall Pier could soon reopen to anglers and visitors, with county officials aiming for a February return tied to Barefoot Mardi Gras.

The Padre Island landmark has been closed since July 2020, when Hurricane Hanna caused significant damage, sidelining what many consider one of the Coastal Bend’s most important economic engines.

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Although the pier was originally expected to be completed Jan. 7, weather delays and allowable work stoppages have pushed that timeline back, according to Nueces County officials overseeing the project.

“So the contract date with the original contractor was January 7,” said Nueces County Commissioner Brent Chesney. “But in that contract, there are days that are allowed for weather, days for days that they can’t work for reasons that are very valid, and so they’ve applied for a lot of those days. So we’re still waiting to get the final number on how far back from January 7 it will be.”

Despite the delay, Chesney said construction is nearing completion and the pier appears close to reopening.

“But it’s getting really close and if you go out there and look, man it looks great,” Chesney said. “It’s going to be awesome. And we’re going to really look forward to doing something, I hope, in February. But I don’t want to mislead people and tell them until I get a firm date from a contractor.”

That potential February reopening would coincide with Barefoot Mardi Gras, scheduled for Feb. 28, a major draw for Padre Island and the Coastal Bend. Local business leaders say reopening the pier in time for the festival, spring break and the summer season would provide a significant boost to tourism.

“And it’s just going to bring in a whole bunch of folks from Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend and also the surrounding regions,” said Dan Herrington, vice president of the Padre Island Business Association. “We get folks from Austin, San Antonio, all over coming. Having that pier done at the same time is going to be phenomenal for all of those people visiting the parade, staying overnight and enjoying the Mardi Gras spirit.”

While the pier itself could reopen as early as next month, officials say its accompanying restaurant will take considerably longer to complete. Chesney said construction on the restaurant is expected to begin soon, now that a contract has been awarded.

“That contractor is mobilizing,” Chesney said. “They should start seeing construction sometime this month or next, and that should be finished, hopefully by the middle or end of this next year, if everything stays on track again. God forbid we have a storm or something happens like that, that can always slow you down. And when you’re building on the coast, everything’s expensive and everything’s a little dicey, but we are moving forward.”

Chesney added that what restaurant ultimately occupies the space will be determined by the county’s Coastal Parks Division, which has not yet solicited bids from restaurateurs or vendors.

For now, island residents, anglers and business owners remain hopeful that one of the Coastal Bend’s most beloved landmarks will soon return to life.