KING OF PRUSSIA, PA – On Friday, Sept. 4, the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) is reopening the official Montgomery County Visitors Center in the temporary Visitor Center at Valley Forge National Historical Park.
“Valley Forge National Historical Park is the gateway for visitors coming to Montgomery County,” said Mike Bowman, President & CEO for the VFTCB. “The site is known nationally, and internationally, and has a significant economic impact - $46.5 million – on the region, and the iconic park attracts more than 2 million visitors each year. We know people are looking for things to do, and there is plenty happening right now in Montco. So, we’re taking every precaution to keep everyone safe and healthy, while helping to enhance visitor experience with information on exploring the rest of the county.”
The Encampment Store is also open at the park. The VFTCB staff will be encouraging visitors to become tourists in their own backyards while promoting the following things to do in Montgomery County: the VFTCB’s #MakeItMontco hotel package, enjoy outdoor dining, check out one of Montco’s 50 golf courses, the fourth award-winning Patriot Tales Comic Book, travel the county’s almost 100 miles of trails, discover the Bike Montco digital bike route maps at valleyforge.org and the free Visit Valley Forge mobile app.
The free Visit Valley Forge mobile app is a hand-held guide for where to stay, play, eat, and shop in Montgomery County, Pa. Claim special offers under Maps & Info, enjoy free digital highlights that are family-friendly, and discover the best attractions, search-by-cuisine-restaurants, 80 hotels, outdoor activities like golf, and more.
Here’s what visitors can expect from the VFTCB’s Montco Welcome Center at the 5,760-square-foot temporary Visitor Center within the park:
- A protective screen around the welcome desk
- Social distancing floor markings, and signage
- Video displays
- QR codes to access digital guides, as well as printed publications
The VFNHP trails, and grounds are open, but other building facilities remain closed. Construction continues on the $12 million renovation to the current visitor center facility, which was built in 1976. During renovations, The Encampment Store, the VFTCB & the NPS are co-managing the new visitor center’s retail bookstore, regional travel information desk, and park information desk that normally serve more than 250,000 visitors each year.
The renovations are scheduled to be completed in by the end of 2020 and will provide for new windows, new finishes including flooring, carpets and signage, energy efficiency improvements, updated collections storage, expanded physical accessibility, modern fire protection and security systems as well as a new HVAC system. Learn more about the new temporary visitor center at go.nps.gov/vafovc.
The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) is a nonprofit, membership-based sales and marketing organization that actively promotes Valley Forge and Montgomery County, PA as a convention site and leisure visitor destination by encouraging patronage of its 500+ member hotels, restaurants, attractions, and services. The award-winning website links visitors, meeting planners, tour operators, and residents to a diverse portfolio of brands focused on reasons to visit the region.
