Florida Welcome Center re-opens
After being closed for several years the Florida Welcome Center on Highway 231 is once again greeting visitors to the Sunshine State
Photo by Mark Skinner
Visitors coming to the state of Florida via U.S. Highway 231 will now have the opportunity to visit the Florida Welcome Center just across the Florida State line.
State budget cuts that affected Visit Florida originally had the Welcome Center’s closure scheduled to close June 30, 2019. Northwest Florida Tourism Council, along with officials from eight counties, assumed oversight of the center July 01, 2019. It closed later that year.
Visit Florida Interim President and CEO Craig Thomas said, “The center was open for many years. A while ago, due to some funding challenges in and around COVID, we had to close it down. We always knew that this was one we had to get back open when we had the chance.”
This is one of the state’s nine original Florida welcome centers. It’s been fully refurbished with new displays, exhibits, and visitor information. It is also the only Florida Visitor’s Center that is not located on an interstate. Visitors can enjoy samples of Florida’s most famous refreshment, Florida’s National orange juice when stopping by to pick up maps, guides, and brochures to help visitors navigate their travel plans.
Visit Pensacola President and CEO Darien Schaefer was in attendance for the ribbon cutting, “I think there’s always a little uncertainty when people travel. So, how nice is it to be able to stop here and talk to somebody and get confirmation on what your plans are, or suggestions, or new ideas? So, I think it’ll have a great impact locally for Northwest Florida and the state of Florida.”
Employees have been preparing for the grand opening for several weeks and are ready to welcome new visitors to Florida.
“It’s one of those jobs that I look forward to going to work every morning when I get up, and being able to help people. Have fun because I know when I go on vacation, I want it to be an easy travel experience. And that’s what our goal is: to make it a pleasant experience for them. So, it means a lot to me to be able to be part of this team,” 231 Welcome Center Information Specialist Chris Lopez said.
It will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., seven days a week.
Adrianne Glass and Kathy Krum look over one the Jackson County guides at the newly reopened Florida Welcome Center on Highway 231
Photo by Mark Skinner, Jackson County Times
Photo by Mark Skinner, Jackson County Times
There was a packed house for the grand reopening of the welcome center at the Florida/ Alabama state line of Highway 231
Photo by Mark Skinner, Jackson County Times