Summit County Citizens Voice

Convention and visitors bureau site in Silverthorne picked as only the 11th official state welcome center; grand opening set for June 30

The Silverthorne visitor center is located in the outlet center at 246-V Rainbow Drive, near the top-center of the map.

The newly designated state visitor center in Silverthorne will be able to highlight Summit County's incredible natural resources, along with opportunities for shopping, dining and lodging.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — The Summit County welcome center at the outlet mall in Silverthorne is slated to become the 11th official state welcome center this week, presenting a huge economic opportunity for Summit County, according to Sharon Russell, director of the Summit County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Russell said she’s been working with the Colorado Tourism Office for several months to seal the deal, and the organization voted June 15 to approve the site as a new state visitor center. The Outlets at Silverthorne is also a partner to the deal, she said.

“The Colorado Tourism Office does a great job of encouraging people to visit the centers,” Russell said, explaining that the locations are highlighted on various welcome brochures and pamphlets, as well as the Colorado Tourism Office website, which sees huge amounts of traffic.

According to one study done a few years ago, the designation as a state visitor center could boost traffic at the site by more than 40 percent. The Silverthorne location already gets about 75,000 to 80,000 visitors annually, Russell said.

That added traffic could convert into new revenue for local businesses, as the center’s staff will have an opportunity to persuade people to perhaps extend their stay in Summit County, Russell said.

“This could truly have an economic impact,” she concluded.

The conversion to a state visitor center will be marked June 30 with a ceremony at the visitor center at 3 p.m. State Sen. Jean White, Silverthorne Mayor Dave Koop, county manager Gary Martinez, Russell, and outlet center manager Jane Esser will all attend the opening, along with staff from the Colorado Tourism Office.

The 1,850 square-foot Silverthorne Welcome Center is partnership between the Colorado Tourism Office, the Silverthorne Convention & Visitors Bureau and Craig Realty Group. The Center is located at 246-V Rainbow Drive, Silverthorne.

Filed under: business, Colorado, economy, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, Travel Tagged: | Colorado Tourism Office, Silverthorne Colorado, Summit County Colorado, Summit County Convention and Visitors Bureau., Summit County News, The Outlets at Silverthorne, Tourism, Travel