New Visitors Center
~ story and photos by Bob Gustin
From opening a stylish new visitors center to breaking ground for a new 2,000-seat performing arts venue, change is in the air for tourism in Brown County.
“ I think 2018 is going to be one of those pivotal years,” said Kevin Ault, president of the Brown County Tourism Commission.“ We’ re starting to build.”
“ It will be a year of networking,” said Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Jane Ellis.
The CVB moved from a central spot in downtown Nashville to a“ gateway” position on the village’ s south side, near the intersection of State Roads 46 and 135, and greeted the community during a February grand opening.
Ellis believes the new location at 211 S. Van Buren St. is ideal, since it is close to where most visitors enter the village, coming from either Columbus or Bloomington, has more accessible parking nearby, and was designed for the specific purpose of being a visitors center.
The old location of 10 N. Van Buren St., across from the Hobnob Corner Restaurant, was a more generic space“ we grew into,” Ellis said. The new location has better flow and design with more open space. One of the first things a visitor sees when entering the center is a large touch-screen monitor opened to the CVB website, which provides a self-guided tour of Brown County attractions.
The lease for the new space, a former Circle K gas station building which was completely renovated, is $ 3,350 per month for about 2,800 square feet, compared to the $ 4,000 the CVB was paying for 4,000 square feet in its old location. Ellis said the old location needed maintenance and upgrades. A committee was formed and recommended the move. Ellis said the new location was preferred and was available.
Remodeling cost the CVB about $ 300,000, but it was financed without debt. Last year the CVB had a budget of more than $ 715,500. By taking $ 200,000 from rollover funds not spent in previous years, and pulling $ 100,000 from the 2017 budget, the remodeling was accomplished.
“ It’ s absolutely phenomenal,” Ault said.“ I think it really portrays Brown County.” Among its attributes, he said, is the use of up-to-date technology, such as the big touch screen, which appeals to younger visitors.
The main lobby has multi-colored carpet squares, large stylized maps of Nashville and Brown County, wall-sized photos featuring things to do in the county, a media room, and a small gift shop featuring hats, shirts, and other items. Native and some vintage lumber was used for woodwork and trim in the center.
The CVB is funded by the innkeeper’ s tax, the 5 percent charge
16 Our Brown County • March / April 2018