User:Jengod/PierDraft

Abbot Kinney's Venice Pier, also known as the Venice Pier, Venice Amusement Pier or the Abbot Kinney Pier, stood over the Pacific Ocean at Venice, Los Angeles County, California, United States, from 1905 until it was destroyed in the 1920 Abbot Kinney pier fire. Commissioned by real estate developer Abbot Kinney as part of his "Venice of America", the pier was 1600 ft long. The Ship Cafe was built at the same time. The Venice Auditorium performance venue at the end of the pier had 3600 seats. The Venice Plunge indoor saltwater swimming pool was located around the corner on Ocean Front Walk had 1500 dressing rooms at opening. The Venice Aquarium was a double-duty tourist attraction and marine mammal research facility. Along the boardwalk of the pier were concessions and rides including pool hall, bowling alley, merry-go-round, and "Joy Wheel".

History
The pier was damaged by storms on multiple occasions, the two most notable being the nearly finished pier being wrecked by high waves and wind prior to the 1905 opening, and the New Year's Day 1914 storm that caused $100,000 in damages.

1920 pier fire
The Venice Pier caught fire on December 20, 1920, just a month after the death of its developer, Abbot Kinney. A gas heater malfunctioned and ignited the dance hall; as the fire rose around them, the band played a march to rally the guests through the evacuation.