Schuyler County opens new visitor's center

    WATKINS GLEN—The Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce marked the opening of the new location and visitor’s center with a ribbon cutting, Thursday, Oct. 4.
    State representatives and many of the chamber’s members attended the event. The new visitor’s center opened the end of August, with the chamber offices officially moving into the new space at 214 N. Franklin St. The ribbon-cutting highlighted some of the center’s improvements over the old location at 100 N. Franklin St., which includes 5,100 square feet or triple the space. The chamber now offers a conference room, 10 display racks, a display of Seneca Lake Wine Trail bottles, and a replica waterfall.
    Chamber President Rebekah LaMoreaux said the move has been 15 years in the making. She said they will now be able to better serve the 17,000 people that come to the chamber annually.
    “All you have to do is walk in the door and see what Watkins Glen and Schuyler County is all about,” said Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning).
    “I think Watkins Glen 10 years ago was a great place. Now it’s an even better place,” Watkins Glen Trustee Scott Gibson said. “I don’t think Watkins Glen would be what it is in 2012 without the chamber.”
    County Administrator Tim O’Hearn said he was pleased to be a partner in helping create the new visitor’s center. He added he hoped the county would be a longtime partner. LaMoreaux explained the county previously approved a 15-year agreement with the chamber to be the designated tourism agency.