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PARKERSBURG — The brand new location for the
has elevated its day by day visitations since opening its new Welcome Station this previous spring, the chief director advised the Wooden County Fee on Thursday.
Mark Lewis appeared earlier than the fee to speak in regards to the current summer season tourism season and the rise in foot site visitors they’ve seen to their new facility which is within the former Level Park Market.
Over the previous 12 months, the CVB secured the constructing by the floodwall close to the gate to Level Park with plans to make it their everlasting location to benefit from its proximity to the boat touchdown. Though the deliberate renovations weren’t accomplished, the CVB needed to be open on the identical day Blennerhassett Island Historic State Park opened in April to benefit from the foot site visitors going forwards and backwards from the Blennerhassett Museum and Level Park to catch the sternwheelers.
Lewis thanked the fee for its monetary and different assist in securing the constructing. He stated the constructing might be closed, beginning Monday, to start the detailed renovation work to the area which might be happening by means of the winter.
Within the meantime, the CVB will return to its authentic workplace at Seventh and Avery streets to maintain its common enterprise.
Lewis stated the best variety of guests to the workplace at Seventh and Avery was 1,150 in a single 12 months.
”This previous weekend we broke 5,000 at our new Welcome Middle,” Lewis stated. ”The key is location, location, location.
”We knew that being down there, being on the way in which to and from the island we might have the chance to work together with many extra folks. All of these alternatives are alternatives to drive further tourism spending whereas they’re right here,” he stated.
That’s telling folks about different sights, museums, eating places, gala’s/festivals and extra within the space in hopes they may spend extra time regionally and presumably spend an evening or come again for one more go to to see issues they didn’t see the primary time, he stated.
”You’d be shocked how many individuals who exit to the island haven’t heard of Henderson Corridor and don’t know now we have one of many state’s largest residential historic districts and a strolling tour or haven’t heard of the Oil and Gasoline Museum,” Lewis stated.
Many individuals come right here for Blennerhassett Island as a result of it has a excessive profile, however when they can speak to folks they can inform them extra in regards to the space which has resulted in commitments for addition journeys from some folks and coach firms.
”It’s a great alternative to drive tourism spending,” Lewis stated. ”We really feel like now we have had a tremendously profitable 12 months down there.”
He talked a couple of doable plan to do season passes for the Blennerhassett Island Historic Park so native folks would be capable of journey to the island extra recurrently throughout the summer season season.
Work will begin subsequent week on renovating the restrooms to make them absolutely ADA compliant with assist of a $25,000 grant from the Bernard McDonough Basis, different work on the inside and work will even be executed on the neighborhood backyard areas across the constructing with 49 raised beds able to be leased out for subsequent 12 months.
The CVB misplaced over $400,000 in lodging tax income throughout the COVID pandemic and the fee was capable of assist with funding by means of completely different sources in addition to assist to buy {the marketplace} constructing. Lewis stated their common price range is round $500,000 and $600,000 in order that form of hit can severely affect their operations and what they wish to accomplish.
”Thanks on your foresight,” Lewis stated. ”It has actually come collectively this 12 months.
”It was extra profitable than I ever dreamed it could possibly be.”
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