Ventura highlight
Ventura Pier
A historic pier built in 1872 and extended to 1,700 feet by 1917, operated by the City of Ventura since 1993, used for fishing and recreation.
Ventura Pier began in 1872 when the first pilings were driven on May 18th and completed on October 5th of that year. By 1917, the City had extended it to its current length of 1,700 feet. The original structure served commercial and fishing purposes for the growing coastal community; it was rebuilt and maintained over more than 150 years, passing from state operation (1949–1993) to the City of Ventura, which manages it today.
The pier remains a community center for all ages. Fishers use it year-round to catch jacksmelt, mackerel, perch, halibut and other species without needing a state license. Families walk and jog the length for views of the Channel Islands, the beach bikeway brings cyclists from across the city, and three on-site establishments serve food and drinks. The pier connects directly to San Buenaventura State Beach and offers a gathering place that has served the city continuously for over a century.
Ventura families depend on the pier as both a landmark and a gathering place where traditions form: a first fishing trip with a parent, an evening walk before dinner, a place to celebrate milestones. That sense of providing stability for the people around you is what life insurance does—it ensures the traditions and care you provide continue even if you cannot be there yourself.