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Welcome centers in the United States

Welcome centers, also commonly known as visitors' centers, visitor information centers, or tourist information centers, are buildings located at either entrances to states on major ports of entry, such as interstates or major highways, e.g. U.S. Routes or state highways, or in strategic cities within regions of a state, e.g. Southern California, Southwest Colorado, East Tennessee, or the South County region of Rhode Island. These welcome centers, which first opened on May 4, 1935 next to U.S. Route 12 in New Buffalo, Michigan, are locations that serve as a rest area for motorists, a source of information for tourists or new residents that enter a state or a region of a state, and a showcase for the state.[1][2] These features make welcome centers, visitors centers, and service plazas, which are similar to welcome centers, distinct from rest areas. In Alaska and Hawaii, their unique geographical locations preclude them from having welcome centers as known in the rest of the U.S.

Nomenclature

Welcome centers can be thought as covering several different concepts: state-owned and operated welcome centers near a state's border, state or municipal-owned and operated visitors centers in cities or rural areas, and service plazas on toll roads, e.g. the New Jersey Turnpike or MassPike, that are either state-owned and -operated, state-owned but operated by a private company, or privately owned and operated. (Visitors' centers in cities can either be owned and operated by the state, a county, a municipality, a local Chamber of Commerce, or be a joint effort between a county and/or a city and a Chamber of Commerce to support and publicize a well-known tourist district, city, or region.) States have different ways of naming welcome centers, but some of the most common ones are welcome centers, visitors centers, or visitors information centers.

Locations

The welcome centers are normally located the first few exits into a state, e.g. Exit 2 on I-84 in Connecticut entering from New York State. However, some welcome centers, visitors' centers, or service plazas are located some distance away from a state's border, serving certain cities, e.g. Johnson City, Tennessee or Oceanside, California's local Chamber of Commerce, major cities, such as New Orleans, Louisiana, or well-known tourist districts, such as the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee tourist district.

Facilities

The welcome centers and service plazas usually consist of a large building or buildings with public restroom facilities, free brochures relating to nearby attractions, lodging, and dining, a free official state highway map updated at regular intervals, staffed desks for people to ask for assistance, picnic areas, nearby restaurants or onsite dining facilities, gas stations, and large parking lots. In addition to the aforementioned, there is normally a large flagpole with the state flag in front of the welcome center.

In large cities like New Orleans or San Francisco, smaller cities like Astoria, Oregon or Vicksburg, Mississippi, as well as rural areas, visitor centers may be in a building of varied size with most of the above amenities included, i.e. restroom facilities, staffed desks for people to ask for assistance, nearby restaurants, free brochures relating to nearby attractions, lodging, and dining. In addition, an urban or rural visitors center may have things of local, regional, or even national interest, such as rare and/or antiquated artifacts or small knickknacks (e.g. coins, stamps, or sports memorabilia).

Differences in administration of welcome centers

Each state varies in its administration of welcome centers. For example, in Georgia, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) constructs and maintains its 9 welcome centers, while in Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development constructs and maintains Tennessee's 14 welcome centers.

Gallery

List of official state welcome centers, visitors' centers and service plazas in the United States

Below is a list of welcome centers, visitors' centers and service plazas, as distinct from rest areas, in the United States, derived from a combination of state tourism websites and the Interstate Rest Areas website.[3] The list includes the state agency responsible for the welcome centers and service plazas; the interstate, U.S. Route, state highway, or local street address that the welcome center or service plaza is located at; the city, the county or other political subdivision that the welcome center or service plaza's city is located in; and explanatory footnotes.

Footnotes

  1. ^ Note that in this list, for purposes of simplicity, welcome center refers to service plazas, visitors' centers, and de facto welcome centers. In addition, any directional references not mentioned in a location means that the exit can be accessed in both directions. (NOTE: No representation is given of the accuracy of the exit numbers, locations, addresses, or directions of the welcome centers, service plazas, or visitors centers.)
  2. ^ California's welcome centers are administered and maintained by Visit California, formerly the California Travel & Tourism Commission.[7][8] Some of these welcome centers are also co-administered by local organizations.
  3. ^ Connecticut abolished county governments in 1960, so all counties in Connecticut are given only as geographical references.[11]
  4. ^ Massachusetts abolished some counties' governments per legislative action in 1997, but some other counties, such as Dukes County and Bristol County, have retained their governmental structures. In this list, all counties in Massachusetts are given only as geographical references.[28]
  5. ^ The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and the West Wendover, Nevada, Community Development Department's Tourism and Convention Bureau administer Nevada's welcome centers.
  6. ^ The Ohio Department of Transportation's Facilities and Equipment Management Division owns, administers, and maintains Tourist Information Centers (TICs) in Ohio.[45][46]
  7. ^ Rhode Island's counties' governmental functions have been limited to acting as court administrative and sheriff corrections boundaries since 1846. Therefore, in this list, all counties in Rhode Island are given only as geographical references.[53][54]
  8. ^ Utah's welcome centers are administered and maintained by the Utah Office of Tourism, which is a subsidiary office of the Governor's Office of Economic Development.
  9. ^ Vermont's welcome centers are administered and maintained by the Vermont Information Centers Division, which is a division of the Department of Buildings and General Services, which is, in turn, a subsidiary department of the Vermont Agency of Administration.
  10. ^ Virginia has 38 independent cities, which are politically equivalent to counties.

References

  1. ^ a b Vellequette, Larry P. (October 4, 2005). "$2.6M Center To Be Welcome Sight". The Blade. Toledo, OH. p. B2. OCLC 12962717. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Borgstrom, Kirsten (May 25, 2010). "Nation's First Highway Travel Information Center: Celebrate 75 Years at the New Buffalo Welcome Center, May 27, 2010" (Press release). Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  3. ^ "Interstate Rest Areas". WordPress.com. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  4. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Alabama". Alabama Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on 2012-09-26. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  5. ^ Staff. "Painted Cliffs Welcome Center". Arizona Office of Tourism. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  6. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Arkansas". Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Archived from the original on 2012-09-05. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  7. ^ "Tourism board changes name to Visit California". Sacramento Business Journal. September 26, 2011.
  8. ^ "How California Doubled Its Tourism Budget to More Than $100 Million". Skift. March 2, 2015.
  9. ^ Staff. "California Welcome Centers". Visit California. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  10. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Colorado". Colorado Tourism Office. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  11. ^ Counties Archived 2015-09-06 at the Wayback Machine, Section VI of Connecticut State Register and Manual, accessed January 31, 2010
  12. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Connecticut". Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of Culture and Tourism. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  13. ^ Staff. "Delaware Welcome Center Travel Plaza". Delaware Tourism Office. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  14. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Florida". VISITFLORIDA. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  15. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Georgia". Georgia Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  16. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Idaho (under Idaho Gateway Visitor Centers)". Idaho Department of Commerce. Archived from the original on October 28, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  17. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Illinois". Illinois Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  18. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Indiana". Indiana Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  19. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Iowa". Iowa Economic Development Authority. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  20. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Iowa (Under Iowa Welcome Centers- State-operated and owned/partnerships)". Iowa Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  21. ^ Staff. "Rest and Welcome Centers of Kansas". Interstate Rest Areas. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  22. ^ Staff. "Welcome to Kansas!". Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism, Tourism Division. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  23. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Kentucky". Kentucky Department of Travel. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  24. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Louisiana". Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  25. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Maine". Maine Tourism Association. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  26. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Maryland". Maryland Office of Tourism Development. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  27. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Maryland". Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway Administration. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  28. ^ "Massachusetts Government: County Government". League of Women Voters. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  29. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Massachusetts". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on June 28, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  30. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Michigan". Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  31. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Minnesota". Explore Minnesota Tourism Council. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  32. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Mississippi". Mississippi Development Agency. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  33. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Missouri". Missouri Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on March 6, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  34. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Montana". Montana Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  35. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Nebraska". Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Retrieved February 23, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  36. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Nebraska". Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Archived from the original on 2014-08-14. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  37. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Southern Nevada". Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  38. ^ Staff. "Welcome Center in West Wendover, Nevada". West Wendover Tourism and Convention Bureau. Archived from the original on January 8, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  39. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of New Hampshire". New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development. Archived from the original on April 23, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  40. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of New Jersey". New Jersey Department of State. Archived from the original on March 8, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  41. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of New Mexico". New Mexico Tourism Department. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  42. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of New York". New York Department of Economic Development. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  43. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of North Carolina". North Carolina Department of Commerce. Archived from the original on May 21, 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  44. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of North Dakota". North Dakota Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  45. ^ Staff (August 9, 2006). "Transportation Enhancement Program 1992-2005". Ohio Department of Transportation. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  46. ^ a b "Ohio's Rest Area System". Ohio Department of Transportation. Tourist Information Centers (TICs) are marked as diamonds on the included map.
  47. ^ Official Transportation Map (Map). Ohio Department of Transportation. June 2011. TIC Locations inset.
  48. ^ "Ohio". Interstate Rest Areas. La Cygne, Kansas: Roundabout Publications. August 7, 2012. Archived from the original on May 13, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  49. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Oklahoma". Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  50. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Oregon". Oregon Tourism Commission. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  51. ^ Staff (December 13, 2012). "COVA Office and Central Oregon Welcome Center Open in New Location". Cascade Business News. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  52. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Pennsylvania". Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  53. ^ Staff (2013). "Information about Rhode Island's South County". United Chambers of Southern Rhode Island. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  54. ^ Staff (2013). "History & Facts of Rhode Island Counties". Genealogy Inc. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  55. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Rhode Island". Rhode Island Tourism Division. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  56. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of South Carolina". South Carolina Department of Parks and Tourism. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  57. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of South Dakota". South Dakota Department of Tourism. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  58. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Tennessee". Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  59. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Tennessee". Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  60. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Tennessee". Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  61. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Texas". Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  62. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Utah". Utah Office of Tourism. Archived from the original on August 24, 2009. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  63. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Vermont". Vermont Outdoor Guide Association. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  64. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Vermont". Vermont Agency of Administration. Archived from the original on March 9, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  65. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Virginia". Virginia Tourism Corporation. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  66. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Washington State". Washington State Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on 2013-05-28. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  67. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of West Virginia". West Virginia Department of Commerce. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  68. ^ Staff. "Visitor & Information Centers". Wisconsin Department of Tourism. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  69. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Wyoming" (PDF). Wyoming Office of Tourism. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
  70. ^ Staff. "Welcome Centers of Wyoming". Wyoming Office of Tourism. Archived from the original on May 13, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Welcome centers in the United States.