HARRISBURG (PRNewswire) – Beautiful rooftop gardens and an outdoor patio are just two of the unique features of a new state-of-the-art welcome center that will greet visitors in Delaware Water Gap this Memorial Day weekend as they enter Pennsylvania from New Jersey on Interstate 80.
The 12,700-square-foot welcome center, at exit 310, is distinctive and
representative of the region’s heritage and culture.
“This new gateway to Pennsylvania is inviting and it will help travelers refresh and learn about the exciting attractions and the many things to do in Pennsylvania,” Gov. Edward G. Rendell said. “Motorists traveling into our state will feel right at home and they will stay longer after seeing all there is to enjoy in the commonwealth.”
The center, which will be operated by Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, was built in partnership with the Department of General Services, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Department of Community and Economic Development, and Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau Inc., which represents the tourism industry in Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties.
DGS managed the construction of the $9.9 million building and included
several energy-saving design features – like geothermal heating and
cooling – to save energy and cut operating costs. Pennsylvania is working
to reduce energy costs by 15 percent in 2007.
The center also includes four PHMC exhibits that showcase the area’s history, from the story of the Poconos and its outdoor recreation opportunities to the region’s Native American history and footpaths.
Stories about William Penn, Benjamin Franklin and Pennsylvania’s Trails of
History will also be featured.
The welcome center was designed by Maria C. Romanach Architects of
Philadelphia. The facility will be open to the public for restroom and
vending services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Welcome center services
are available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. year-round, including most holidays.
The Department of Community and Economic Development’s Pennsylvania Tourism Office provided the colorful design and backdrops for regional maps, information and other elements inside the center to help travelers learn about new attractions near their destinations in Pennsylvania, or find their way if they become lost.
“The opening of this new welcome center couldn’t have come at a better
time than Memorial Day weekend,” said Bob Uguccioni, executive director of
Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau Inc. “Summer season in the Pocono
Mountains will kick off with many different fairs, festivals and events.
“We are excited about the opportunity to promote the Pocono Mountains
to the thousands who will stop here every day.”
During the 2004-05 fiscal year, Pennsylvania’s welcome centers served more than 3.9 million travelers and placed 8,617 overnight reservations that resulted in nearly $700,000 in direct tourism revenue for the state.
Pennsylvania’s welcome centers provide a wide range of travel services to
the motoring public, including personalized travel counseling, directional
assistance, accommodation reservation services, and information and
promotion of the state’s natural, scenic, private and historic attractions.
With 15 centers, Pennsylvania now has the largest network of official state welcome centers in the nation. In 2005, Pennsylvania opened three new
centers: one at I-81 southbound near the New York border in the Endless
Mountains region, one along the Pennsylvania Turnpike on I-76 eastbound at
the Zelienople service plaza near the Ohio border and on I-276 westbound at
the North Neshaminy service plaza near the New Jersey border. On May 19, a
new center opened along I-90 in Pennsylvania’s Great Lakes Region, near the
New York border.
Pennsylvania is the fourth-most-visited state in the country, tied with
New York, with approximately 126 million visitors annually. The total
impact of travelers’ spending on Pennsylvania’s economy is approximately
$23 billion a year and tourism is responsible for more than 520,000 jobs.
For more information about Pennsylvania’s tourism industry, go to
www.visitpa.com, or call 800-VISITPA.