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Bedford Area Welcome Center celebrates 20th anniversary
In 2001, alongside the opening of the National D-Day Memorial, a trailer housing a brand-new Bedford County/thenCity of Bedford Tourism department sat on a vacant piece of land off Route 460. The first director, Nanci Drake, had a vision for the property—build a facility to showcase the Bedford area.
“At the time, there wasn’t a place to do that… to welcome visitors, show them where to go, highlight big attractions,” said Director of Tourism Nicole Johnson.
After years of planning between the county and city, on Oct. 29, 2004, the Bedford Area Welcome Center opened its doors. The architecture was intentional to reflect the tone of lodges found along the Blue Ridge Parkway and also give a nod to the area’s iconic farmhouses and barns with the addition of clapboard siding and a cupola.
Every year, approximately 30,000 people visit the Welcome Center; that figure used to be almost double when the National D-Day Memorial used to sell its admission tickets inside.
With the help of generous volunteers (20 currently), the facility is open seven days a week most days of the year.
“Thousands of hours have been donated by volunteers through the years,” said Johnson. “We couldn’t provide the service we do without them.”
In the past year leading up to the 20th anniversary, Tourism staff planned for some long-overdue aesthetic upgrades.
“There had been no big updates to the photography or graphics inside the building since 2004,” said Administrative Manager Michelle Crumpacker.
Improvements include a large photo wall that can be changed seasonally (top right), a visitor courtesy desk, a Blue Ridge Parkway sitting nook, kiosk to navigate the Destination Bedford website (bottom left), and other large graphic and photography displays.
The Welcome Center is constantly evolving. Other additions through the years include the LOVE sign (2017), rollout of Destination Bedford branding
(2019), Pitch N’ Putt Disc Golf Course (2023), and new entrance sign (2023).
Staff are now preparing for a 20th anniversary open house on Oct. 29, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will include light refreshments, entertainment, and door prizes.
“When the doors opened at the Welcome Center 20 years ago, it was a moment of great pride for our community,” said Johnson. “We remain dedicated to preserving that sense of pride and are excited about the future.”
