New Visitor's Center Opens on Highway 421 in Wilkesboro
By Joel Frady
An odd-shaped building sits on northbound N.C. Highway 421 in Wilkesboro, located between exits 282 and
285,
that offers many of the things that a weary or curious traveler might
desire: rest rooms and vending machines along with rows and rows of
brochures detailing everything there is to see and do in a 10-county
area.
This building - the Northwest North Carolina Visitor
Center - opened its doors to the public on Thursday, Oct. 1, and has
seen thousands of visitors in the days since. The center is also the
first sustainable building constructed by the N.C. Department of
Transportation, built with energy efficiency and water conservation in
mind.
But for businesses in Ashe County, it isn't just
another rest area - it's a direct connection to thousands of people that
might be interesting in visiting Ashe County.
"It will be great
for us," said Cabot Hamilton, executive director of the Ashe County
Chamber of Commerce. He noted that the Chamber provided two boxes of
Ashe Visitor and Business guides to the visitor center - and almost all
were gone in a week.
"It's been a huge pull," said Hamilton.
"Those visitors are looking for things to do and places to go. ? All of
the businesses that live and do their business in Ashe County need to be
part of this visitor center to get the word out."
Regina Koons,
who spent the last seven years with the Wilkes County Chamber of
Commerce, is the manager of the center. She said that the Wilkes Chamber
has "really embraced tourism as such a growing industry that if we
serve our visitors and our travelers, they can spend more time, more
money and get more enjoyment in these counties."
She said the
facility was built not only to give travelers a rest stop, complete with
a walking trail, but as "an educational tool" for a 10-county area that
goes from Surry and Yadkin counties on the east to Avery County on the
west.
Koons said she hopes to create a "definite economic
impact, for the region and for the state," and also encouraged Ashe
County businesses to "make sure they get their brochures here,
especially seasonal information" such as information about annual
festivals in the weeks and months leading up to the events.
Although
the center will display brochures for many businesses and attractions,
they keep brochures for restaurants and outlets behind the counter due
to regulations. Anyone interested in having their brochures available at
the center also has to send a copy of the brochure to the N.C. Division
of Tourism for approval.
Hamilton said that, to his knowledge,
"anyone who has sent in a letter" has gotten approval. When visiting the
center on opening day, he said he was "very pleased" with the number of
Ashe businesses already on display.
"We now have a place that
is going to help direct and guide visitors once they get on top of the
mountain," he said. He later added that the staff of the center is
"warm, friendly and ready to promote Ashe County," and recommends that
Ashe citizens and business owners "let them know we care what they're
doing" so they'll work even harder to promote Ashe County.
Koons noted that "it's amazing how many people walk out the doors [of the center] with bundles of brochures in their hands."
The
center also provides an opportunity for local artists, as art from two
rotating counties will be displayed on the walls of the center at any
given time.
To submit a brochure for approval, send it to:
Director of Visitor Services, N.C. Division of Tourism, Film and Sports
Development, 4324 Mail Services Center, Raleigh, NC 27699.
Once
they respond with a letter of approval, send a copy of that letter and
the approved rack cards or brochures to: Northwest North Carolina
Visitor Center, 2501 East U.S. Highway 421, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.
To
find out more, contact the Northwest North Carolina Visitor Center at
(336) 667-1259 or the Ashe County Chamber of Commerce at (336) 846-9550.
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