Summary
The Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex offers a wide array of athletic activities, including golf, skating, batting cages, bowling, a gym, and even a spa. Moreover, Chelsea Piers is home to event spaces, notably Pier Sixty – The Lighthouse, and various sightseeing cruises dock at Chelsea Piers.
Things To Do
- Go Ice Skating Year Round
- Practice Your Golf Swing with a stunning view of the Hudson River
- Take a Sightseeing Cruise on The Bateaux New York or with Classic Harbor Lines
- Enjoy some Bowling
History of Chelsea Piers
Chelsea Piers first opened in 1910 as a passenger ship terminal. Before its grand opening, luxury ocean liners, including the Lusitania and Mauretania, were already docking there. Notably, the Titanic was scheduled to dock at Chelsea Piers on April 16, 1912, but tragically sank two days earlier after hitting an iceberg. On April 20, 1912, Cunard’s Carpathia arrived at Chelsea Piers, carrying 675 rescued passengers from the Titanic. Steerage class immigrants arriving at Chelsea Piers were ferried over to Ellis Island for processing.
Throughout the first and second World Wars, the piers remained active; however, they became too small for the larger passenger ships introduced in the 1930s. Consequently, with the onset of commercial flights to Europe in 1958, transatlantic passenger service sharply declined, leading to the piers being used exclusively for cargo. In 1967, the last tenants moved their operations to New Jersey, and for years afterward, the piers served primarily for storage, including customs and impounding.
With increasing interest in redeveloping waterways, plans were initiated in 1992, leading to ground-breaking in 1994, and the transformed Chelsea Piers commenced operations in stages starting in 1995.
Tips for Visiting
- Allow ample time to arrive at Chelsea Piers. Walking from the subway can take approximately 20-30 minutes, and there is often traffic on the West Side Highway, making driving or taxi rides less than swift.
- Being aware of your specific destination within Chelsea Piers is essential, as each area operates independently, and staff may not be knowledgeable about other sections.
Chelsea Piers Basics
- Location: between 17th and 23rd Streets along the Hudson River
- Website: https://www.chelseapiers.com/
How Do You Get There
- Bus/Subway: The last stop on the M23 bus, which travels west along 23rd Street, will take you directly to the northern entrance of Chelsea Piers. Alternatively, it takes about 10 minutes from the 23rd Street stop on the C/E lines. The M14 bus stops at the southern entrance at 18th Street.
- Driving: Enter from 23rd Street and the West Side Highway. Both valet and self-parking are available at Chelsea Piers.
