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Should stay open through September It’s been two years since there was a tourist information center on Highway 101 to catch the eyes of motorists passing through Crescent City. The Crescent City Tourist Information Center will reopen today at U.S. Hwy. 101 and Elk Valley Road. A lack of funding cut short its run two years ago, but this time plans call for it to remain open through mid-September. The first time around, “It was a huge hit,” said Bill Renfroe, the executive director of the Tri-Agency Economic Development Authority, which is resurrecting the center. The Tourist Information Center had 100 people a day coming in to see what there was to do at the very top of the California coast, he said.
“We’re hoping to capture the same level of visitors,” Renfroe said.
Tourists may not catch every sign and billboard along the highway, he said, and speed through Crescent City without knowing about the attractions here. Renfroe has been working with the Crescent City/Del Norte County Chamber of Commerce to get the information center leased and open. Pacific Power donated money to pay the rent through mid-September. The building is empty and Renfroe said Wednesday he was “scrambling” to find informative materials to fill it before the Fourth of July holiday weekend. He also needs volunteers to help run it. Originally, the Tourist Information Center was going to be open through Labor Day, but Renfroe has decided to keep it open through the sport salmon fishing season in September. There are two other visitor centers in Crescent City: at the Cultural Center on Front Street and at the Redwood National and State Parks headquarters on K Street. |