LEWISBURG — A crowd estimated at well over 100 people gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center and the dedication of the center’s Rahall Conference Room here Tuesday.

Congressman Nick J. Rahall, whose efforts in securing federal money for the center were recognized by the naming of the conference room, cut the ribbon to make it official.

“The Greenbrier Valley could write the book — literally — on  American hospitality and tourism,” Rahall told the crowd. “Blessed with nature’s beauty and resources and filled with the warmest and most charming people you would ever want to meet, this powerful combination has been luring visitors since our nation’s founding.”

Rahall noted travel spending in the four counties promoted by the new visitors center — Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Monroe and Summers — has an economic impact of more than $345 million annually.

“This new center will not only help to create a one-stop shop for visitors to the region to get information on everything from outdoor recreation activities to places to stay and eat, it will also share some of our unique history and culture in southern West Virginia,” the congressman said.

He added, “I don’t really think of it as a typical visitors center. I see it as a ‘gateway oasis’ to our region, and the very first stop on the trail for families to relax, get good information and assistance from our experts in West Virginia tourism.”

One of those experts, Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Kara Dense, said of the new center, “We wanted a place where people could feel at home.”

She pointed out the many amenities in the 7,500 square-foot space, which occupies the corner of Washington and Court streets downtown. It contains a lounge area with a stage for performances and demonstrations, free Wi-Fi and computer terminals, an abundance of brochures, plus an interactive kiosk that puts information about such attractions as lodging, dining, shopping and entertainment at a visitor’s fingertips.

“It’s a retail sales center (designed) to make cash registers ring in the community,” Dense said.

The downtown location is already paying dividends in terms of sheer numbers of visitors, Dense noted, saying last year in the CVB’s old headquarters, a total of 3,000 tourists visited the welcome center. Since the new center opened to the public less than seven weeks ago, more than 5,000 people have passed through the doors.

“If we can get them to spend a little more time and a little more money in the area, the investment of time and money in this center will be well worth it,” Dense said.

Major funding for the renovation of the building, which once housed Yarid’s department store, came from a $544,500 Housing and Urban Development grant secured by Rahall and a $1 million short-term loan from the Greenbrier County Commission’s arts and recreation fund.

The visitors center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, phone 304-645-1000 or visit greenbrierwv.com.

— E-mail: talvey@register-herald.com