It was constructed, at a total cost of £50,000, using a different method than that used for North and Central piers, the Worthington Screwpile System, by the company owned by Alderman James Heyes, a twice major of Blackpool.

At 163 yards (149 m) long, it was the shortest of the three piers, and had 36 shops, a bandstand, an ice-cream vendor and a photograph stall.

Holidaymakers started visiting the South Shore in 1896 when a carousel was installed on the sand dunes.

[4] The pier head theatre was demolished and replaced by the Crazy Mouse roller coaster in 1998.

The pier now contains numerous rides including dodgems, Crazy Mouse and a Waltzer,[4] the Laughing Donkey Family Bar, which has live entertainment,[5] a Kiddies Ride Arena,[6] as well as the Adrenaline Zone which houses: "Skycoaster", a freefalling swing at a height of 38 m (124 ft 8 in); "Skyscreamer", a Reverse Bungee ride; "Spider Mountain", a multi-storey climbing spiders web; and "Maxibounce", an acrobatic, safety harnessed trampoline.