Welcome Center is a Guaranteed Return for the Lakes Area
The Brainerd Lakes Area Welcome Center opened in May of 2005. This
exciting one-of-kind facility has been in development since 1995
and required special state legislation to create this unique public/private
partnership.
Located: Approximately 7 miles south of Brainerd/Baxter
on State Highway 371.
Center details:
- The Center attracts visitors
and promotes the Lakes Area for vacations, relocation, jobs
and business development.
- The Chamber's professional staff and
trained volunteers operate
the Center year round.
- Projected visitors are 200,000
per year, based on 9% of the vehicles stopping. (This compares
to about 15,000 annually at
the previous site in downtown Brainerd). July 2005 visitor traffic averaged
330 visitors daily, surging to over 450 on Saturdays.
- Chamber
members will be promoted at the Center.
Unique amenities
at the site to encourage visitors:
- High-speed wireless and
wired internet access to access Email and internet services.
(T1 provided by US Link).
- Larger-than-life floor map illustrating
the lake region (designed by Evergreen Press).
- Golf putting
green created and maintained by area golf courses.
- Paul Bunyan
statue for photo opportunities.
- TV with videos about the lakes
area.
- Professional staff and trained volunteers operate the
Center year round.
- Gift shop promoting local projects and unique
items.
- Promotional displays indoors and outdoors.
- Interpretive displays
by the Department of Natural Resources.
Construction & Operations:
- The Chamber is
responsible for 35% of the construction and operating costs
of the building, based on our occupancy.
- The Chamber's $600,000
obligation (35% of the construction costs)
completes the Chamber portion of the building,
and creates the Paul Bunyan statue and video.
- The total project
cost, including site acquisition, roadwork, infrastructure,
landscaping, and building construction, is about
$2.5 million.
- The Chamber's operational costs include 35% of the utilities
for the building, maintenance of shared and Chamber
space, property
taxes and staffing.
Your Financial Support is Necessary
This Center will benefit the entire Lakes Area. Only $41,000
remains toward our goal of $600,000. Thank you Lakes
Area for your tremendous
support! (See
list of donors here).
Questions about the Center should be directed to Lisa
Paxton at the Chamber.
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