With a casino resort being built and Danville working to boost tourism in the city, it looks like the Danville Visitor Center will be getting a makeover.
City officials are seeking a firm to perform the project, with bids due Sept. 19.
Danville economic development and tourism staff have been discussing the possibility of renovating the center since the office took over operations at the facility, said Corrie Bobe, director of economic development and tourism.
Officials want the renovations to "provide an enhanced experience for the traveling public and increase operational efficiencies," Bobe said.
The Danville Visitor Center is at 645 River Park Drive, just off the exit for Dan Daniel Memorial Park at U.S. 29 North.
Built in 2002, the visitor center was owned by the state until ownership was transferred to the city of Danville in August 2022.
"A significant portion of Danville's economy will be based upon tourism," City Manager Ken Larking said. "That's already starting to happen with the permanent casino coming."
In July 2023, the city's first-ever regional tourism master plan was unveiled to Danville City Council.
The city is focusing more on marketing its existing tourism assets and developing new ones in the hope of convincing visitors to stay in Danville longer, he said.
"The vision for the visitor center is to be a place where anybody that's coming into the community can get information on all sorts of things that are happening, whether they be events, attractions, you name it," Larking said.
Visitor centers provide information to travelers about their communities, offering maps, brochures and other items.
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Work at the facility will be performed in phases, Bobe said.
The first will include converting office space into a training/conference room that will be used for workshops, meetings and events, Bobe said.
During the second phase, that area will be used as a temporary visitor center while the core of the building and storage/operational areas are being improved, she said.
"The travel counselors counter will be relocated to the center of the building, so that staff can immediately engage with visitors as they enter the building," Bobe said.
There will also be mobile kiosks made to hold marketing materials and brochures. A new monitor and sound dome will be installed that will play videos about the region's tourism assets, Bobe said.
"New flooring and windows will be installed and the interior will also be repainted to allow for a fresh look while maintaining the traditional design of the property," she said.
In addition, there are other optional projects that would be included in the endeavor if funding allows. Those include extension of the outside patio, improvements to the dog-run area and installation of a LOVE sign, Bobe said.
Once a firm is selected for the renovations, the work would take about 250 days -- or about eight months -- to complete, she said.
Officials are not sure how much the project will cost.
"We are waiting for bids to return to determine the final cost of renovations and if we would be able to include any of the 'optional' projects," Bobe said.
The visitor center has a manager and six part-time travel counselors.
The facility is different from a state-run welcome center that has 24-hour restrooms and a visitor center. Visitor centers are run by local governments.
State-run welcome centers include both visitor centers and rest stops. Visitor centers usually have limited hours, while rest stops are open 24 hours.
Danville's visitor center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
John R. Crane
(434) 791-7987
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