It's been exactly 100 years since Tampa Bay had a direct hit from a major hurricane. On October 25, 1921, a Category 3 hurricane devastated St. Petersburg and the Jungle.
There was extensive damage throughout the area. The Jungle was mostly undeveloped at the time ‒ the Jungle Prada building, Jungle Hotel and Piper-Fuller Flying Field were built several years after the hurricane ‒ but in 1921 there was a golf course, clubhouse, the Jungle pier and some homes near the water. The St. Petersburg Times reported that property along the coast was severely damaged and the Jungle pier was washed away. Trolley tracks on the pier were swept ashore and strung out along the beach. Since then, the pier has been rebuilt several times, but trolley tracks were never again extended onto the pier.
By November 5th, the fishing boat Casanova resumed operation from the Jungle Pier.
Historic maps. photos and postcards:
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| St. Petersburg Times, March 16, 1913. Map of Trolley Line to Jungle Pier |
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| St. Petersburg Times March 17, 1914. Trolley at Jungle terminus. The tracks continue out to the Jungle pier. The destination on front of the car "Electric Dock" is the pier in downtown St. Petersburg - pier-to-pier trolley service. |
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| Electric Dock in St. Petersburg circa 1910. Trolley on dock in middle of picture. |
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| St. Petersburg Times, February 3, 1924. At first I thought there might be trolley tracks on the pier, but it is the shadow from the railing. |
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| St. Petersburg Times, March 23, 1924 |
In 1950, a new pier with concrete pilings replaced the old wooden pier. A privately owned bait house is seen on the left.
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| St. Petersburg Times April 23, 1950. |
In 2002, the pier was closed for safety reasons. It underwent extensive restoration and reopened in 2005.
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| Jungle Pier today. Photo: Steve of the Jungle. |
