The Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania, Visitors Bureau announces the official grand opening Saturday, April 25, of the new Lake Wallenpaupack Visitors Center, located on Route 6 in Palmyra Township, Pike County.
This new $1 million facility is a partnership of the PMVB, Palmyra Township, Pike County and the Hawley-Lake Wallenpaupack Chamber of Commerce. PPL Corp. donated 10 acres of land to the township, an area that includes the footprint of the center and The Palmyra Township Public Beach.
Positioned along the shores of Lake Wallenpaupack, this 5,300-square foot building is owned by the PMVB. The PMVB will occupy the main floor with a visitors center and use the building as a satellite office. The lower level will be the headquarters of the Hawley-Lake Wallenpaupack Chamber of Commerce and the Pike/Wayne constituent office of the State Senator Lisa Baker of the 20th Senatorial District.
The PMVB’s visitors center certified Brand Ambassadors will assist both local residents and visitors with immediate tourism information including referrals, reservations, directions and brochures. A complete collection of current information on a variety of activities, attractions, dining and lodging options is available in addition to displays and exhibits interpreting not only the Lake Region of the Pocono Mountains, but also the surrounding communities.
“Celebrating the opening of the Lake Wallenpaupack Visitors Center reinforces the visitor centric focus of the PMVB and strengthens our community partnership with Pike and Wayne Counties,” says Carl Wilgus, president and CEO of the PMVB.
The grand opening celebration consists of a series of events and activities throughout the weekend with the formal ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 25.
Other grand opening highlights include:
Pick Up 6 Press Conference & Beautification Project, 8 to 10 a.m. Friday – PMVB, Keep PA Beautiful, PA Route 6 Heritage Corp. and local residents join forces for litter removal along Route 6 as well as working under the direction of Michael Levine Garden Landscape at the center.
Outdoor/Indoor Exhibits and Displays, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday – including Wallenpaupack Area Historical Society, Hensel Collection on Display in the Gallery, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Sculpted Ice Works, Pike County Conservation District and Conservation Partnership, Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District, PA Route 6 Heritage Corp. and live music on acoustic guitar by John Curtin.
Wallenpaupack Scenic Boat Tours is offering complimentary scenic boat tours of Lake Wallenpaupack beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday and continuing on the half-hour until 3 p.m. Space is limited. Weather permitting.
Outdoor/Indoor Exhibits and Displays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday – including Wallenpaupack Area Historical Society, Hensel Collection on Display in the Gallery, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Pike County Conservation District and Conservation Partnership, Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District and the PA Route 6 Heritage Corp.
The Lake Wallenpaupack Visitors Center is one of four visitors centers operated by the PMVB and conveniently located in the Pocono Mountains. The public is encouraged to visit the new center, whether a local resident or in town for business or pleasure, and enjoy the lakeside view from the deck and find out all there is to see and do here.
The grand opening, taking place during the PMVB’s 75th Anniversary celebration, speaks to the region’s long history of providing a nearby escape, only a short drive from most major cities in the Northeast, dating back to when returning soldiers would escape to the Pocono Mountains for much deserved rest and relaxation.
The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau is the accredited destination marketing organization for the four-county Pocono Mountains region of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties. Established in 1934, the PMVB celebrates its 75th Anniversary. Comprehensive visitor information is available online or by phone, toll-free, at 800-762-6667.
