Opening soon, a pier that will invite Coastians, tourists to Deer Island

MISSISSIPPI SOUND -- The new pier on Deer Island should be open within two months and possibly sooner, Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said Wednesday.

The project is one major part of an effort to open the island to Coast residents and visitors, which in turn will provide an economic boost for the area, Hosemann said.

Hosemann and Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Director Jamie Miller toured the pier and the island Wednesday afternoon.

"As you can tell, we're on time and on budget," Hosemann said.

The 170-foot pier cost about $360,000, which was paid for through Tidelands Funds. Construction began in the summer.

The pier will allow boaters to dock on the island and could facilitate a ferry as well.

"This is part of and maybe the first step in bringing tourism from there," Hosemann said, pointing back toward the casinos on the mainland, "to here."

The goal is to persuade visitors to spend one more day on the Coast -- just one more day can have significant economic impact, officials said -- and the option of visiting Deer Island should help.

The island will also be child and family friendly, which will help with tourism.

The island had been largely untouched by visitors for decades, so state officials are working to keep it as pristine as possible while balancing the needs of visitors, Hosemann and Miller said.

"We want to make sure to do it responsibly," Miller said. "This is an opportunity to do it right."

There will be signage for trails. Officials are discussing whether and how to add amenities such as bathrooms and shelters, which not only contribute to visitors' comfort but also to public safety.

"We're going to keep this island as close to natural as we can but at the same time keep people safe," Miller said.

This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 6:13 PM with the headline "Opening soon, a pier that will invite Coastians, tourists to Deer Island ."