Centre County Visitor Center Dedicated, Sept. 14
Unofficially, the Visitor Center opened in time for the National Governors’ Association meeting in July and has been busy ever since with between 15,000 and 20,000 visitors since then, including thousands these past two football weekends.

"Today we celebrate a significant milestone for travel and tourism in Centre County. Today we officially open a welcoming center that will greet all visitors and travelers to Centre County and to the Pennsylvania State University," said Dale M. Roth, president of the board of directors for the Centre County Convention and Visitors Bureau. "This project from initial vision through final construction sought the cooperation of many diverse constituents and today we are very proud to dedicate one of the most attractive and innovative visitors' centers in the Commonwealth.

The $3.5 million, 15,000-square-foot center is a joint venture of the Centre County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Penn State. The Bureau has a membership of more than 300 businesses from several departments at Penn State to local media, hotels, restaurants and bed and breakfast establishments, retail shops, banks and many types of services. The building was designed by Susan Maxman and Partners, Inc. of Philadelphia.

Several years ago, both the Bureau and Penn State were studying the need for new information centers when a focus group for the Bureau suggested Penn State as the site to combine the interests of the University and the community. Penn State owns the lands and now leases it to the Bureau.

The Visitor Center is a complete, one-stop source for information on things to do and see…recreational suggestions…directions to and reservations for lodgings and restaurants…Penn State University information and parking permits…area and Penn State souvenirs…maps…public phones .. ATM machines…an interactive touchscreen kiosk. Professionally mounted displays on the history, culture, industry and points of interest in the county…and even a cyber café where you can check your email. The Center also houses the Bureau’s administrative offices and a University Relations office.

Open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily except Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving and Easter, county and campus tours will be able begin and end at the center including an opportunity to view the Centre County video and other promotional videos.

"Today's ribbon-cutting ceremony not only marks the official opening of this attractive 15,000-square-foot structure -- which is already a hub of activity -- but also signifies the strong cooperative venture among many groups within this county," said Spanier. "With this new venture, a welcoming facility designed to provide an abundance of information and make traveling in Centre County easy and enjoyable, Penn State and the Centre County Convention and Visitors Bureau hope to put Centre County on the map as a must-see destination for all travelers."

You may also go to http://www.visitpennstate.org for more information.