The Hilton Pier/Ravine (often simply Hilton Pier) is a park located in the

Hilton Village Hilton Village is a planned English-village-style neighborhood in Newport News, Virginia. Recognized as a pioneering development in urban planning, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The neighborhood was built between 1918 ...

historic district in Newport News, Virginia. It is maintained by the

Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism The Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (also known as Newport News Parks) is the government agency responsible for maintaining city parks and other sites of interest to tourists and the general population within the city of New ...

Location

The Hilton Pier is located behind Hilton Elementary School on the James River. The

Ravine A ravine is a landform that is narrower than a canyon and is often the product of streambank erosion.Hurricane Isabel Hurricane Isabel was the strongest Atlantic hurricane since Mitch, and the deadliest, costliest, and most intense hurricane in the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. Hurricane Isabel was also the strongest hurricane in the open waters of the Atlan ...

. 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 Joe Frank (August 19, 1938 – January 15, 2018) was a French-born American writer, teacher, and radio performer best known for his often philosophical, humorous, surrealist, and sometimes absurd monologues and radio dramas he recorded often i ...

, the

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...

of Newport News.

Offerings

There is a small beach at the location of the park. The fishing is described as excellent at the pier. Croaker and

trout Trout are species of freshwater fish belonging to the genera '' Oncorhynchus'', '' Salmo'' and '' Salvelinus'', all of the subfamily Salmoninae of the family Salmonidae. The word ''trout'' is also used as part of the name of some non-salm ...

are the fish primarily caught during the summer months. The pier is accessible to visitors in wheelchairs, a feature the earlier piers lacked. It is approximately 410 feet in length.

References

* "Hilton Pier Dedicated," ''Daily Press'' (Newport News, VA) 10 July 2005, B1-B2
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
December 2004 Commission Actions {{DEFAULTSORT:Hilton Pier Ravine Piers in Virginia Virginia municipal and county parks Parks in Newport News, Virginia