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Renovated Visitors Center hosts grand reopening Tuesday

The renovated Welcome Center features an open floor plan and social media wall. [KNIGHT STRATEGIES]

By Lightning Reports, Published: August 19, 2024

The Hendersonville Welcome Center reopens this week following a $1.9 million renovation that has added high-tech screens and a social media wall to the "old-school" offerings of rack cards and paper maps.

“The space has been designed to serve people in whatever manner they like to receive info,” said Michelle Owens, executive director of the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority. “For techies, we have QR codes, an interactive touch screen trip planner and a social media wall showing visitor experiences in real time. For those who prefer old school, we have visitor guides, trail maps and rack cards of lodging and attractions. Of course, guests can rest assured that knowledgeable and friendly staffers and volunteers are always on hand to answer questions and supply pertinent information.”

Fully upgraded and remodeled, the facility will also serve as the  official trailhead for the Ecusta Trail when the first segment of the much-anticipated rail trail opens in December.

The public is invited to the center’s grand reopening and open house from 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27.

Upon entering, visitors can feel the building’s transformation immediately with vaulted ceilings and a video wall showcasing outdoor activities. The open floor plan has stations and exhibits highlighting agritourism, arts, family activities, outdoor adventure, the Crest of the Blue Ridge wine country and a variety of trails, including the Hendersonville Ice Cream Trail and the Hendersonville Cheers! Trail of brewpubs, wineries and distilleries.

A particular point of emphasis is the touch screen trip planner. Its large display screen mirrors the Visit Hendersonville website and allows people to explore the county, build an itinerary and text it to their cell phones.

As local tourism continues to increase, Owens points to three reasons for investing in the Welcome Center, at 201 S. Main St.: the need for a larger, more immersive space to educate visitors and locals on the many attractions and activities countywide; to create a more efficient and productive work space for the TDA staff; and to complement the South Main Street renovations that connect downtown and the Ecusta Trail.

“We want to be a pivot point for both Main Street and the Ecusta Trail to bring them together in a seamless way,” Owens says. “The arrival of the Ecusta Trail will take our operations to a new level.”

Contractors for the project were Cooper Construction of Hendersonville. Architects were Clark Nexsen of Asheville, with interior design by Knight Strategies of Lake Lure. All funding for the project came from occupancy taxes paid by overnight visitors to Henderson County. No local property tax dollars were used.

“A big thank you goes to the TDA board for supporting this initiative and to the TDA staff and volunteers for their dedication and patience as we have gone through this process,” Owens says.