A new Zionsville Welcome Center opened in downtown Zionsville on Christmas in the Village weekend and will remain open until April 2013. This new center is located at the south end of Main Street, in the former Grill Masters Garden back house, 345 S. Main St.
“The welcome center is for anyone – people from Fishers, Carmel, out of town – who want to learn more about the town.We hope it will help bring people who live here back downtown,”
The center’s committe members hope it will become a first-stop for visitors to the town.
“It’s a stepping off point where people can stop in can get a map, information, or a tour,” committee member and volunteer Candace Ulmer said. “The possibilities are endless.”
What started as an idea for Christmas in the Village weekend has been expanded through April, with the help of a $6,000 re-appropriation from the Food and Beverage fund approved at the Town Council meeting on Dec. 3.
“We’ve always talked about a welcome center. It was going to happen sooner or later. The opportunity came up so it happened sooner than later,” Ulmer said, expressing gratitude to John Demaree, owner of the new welcome center building. “He’s been flexible and worked with us to make it happen. We couldn’t have done it without him.”
The idea of a welcome center has been discussed for years and came to the forefront in August when a committee was formed and discussions began with the Indiana Arts Commission about establishing the downtown business area as a cultural district with the main goal to “promote the cultural experience; arts, music, history of the Town of Zionsville,” Ulmer said.
Promoting the Town of Zionsville through the new center has been supported by many merchants.
“I am super-excited about the new welcome center! Volunteers will be able to provide information, directions, maps, show walkers and bikers the access points to our Rail-Trails, meet and greet tour buses – so many opportunities to be of service. We have needed a welcome center for years,” Kathy Scales Brown, owner of Brown’s on Main, said.
The welcome center’s hours are Thursday and Friday from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 to 5 p.m. Hot chocolate, coffee, brochures about upcoming events and tours are available. For more information or to volunteer at the center, contact Marianne Doyle, [email protected], or Ulmer, [email protected].
