Los Alamos Visitor Center Manager Melanie Pena cuts the ribbon Tuesday on the relocated Los Alamos Visitor Center at the Community Building at 475 20th St. Courtesy photo

Staff Report

County and business leaders and community members turned out Tuesday for the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday of the Los Alamos Visitor Center at its new location, 475 20th St., Suite A, on the north side of the Community Building next to the Teen Center.

The Los Alamos Visitor Center has been closed since Jan. 1 as the County coordinated the relocation of the following organizations to free up this more visible, centralized County-owned space for the visitor center, as recommended by the County’s 2018 Tourism Strategic Plan.

The New Mexico State University’s Cooperative Extension Office is now at the historic “Red Cross’ cottage at 1251 Bathtub Row. The Manhattan Project National Historical Park administrative offices are now on the first floor of Fuller Lodge in Room 111; and the Los Alamos Arts Council’s administrative offices are in Room 201 on the second floor of Fuller Lodge.

The County’s Facilities Division staff completed renovations to the space last week and Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation’s visitor center staff moved in this week, with a focus on providing an inviting, informative space, with minimal clutter. New exhibits are planned for the interior and exterior in the coming months.

The new location was recommended by the County’s Tourism Implementation Task Force as a temporary, cost-effective location pending future needs and locations assessment for a possible new permanent site, pending available approved budget.

For questions or additional information, the public should contact County Economic Development Division Marketing Specialist Kelly Stewart at kelly.stewart@lacnm.us or 505.662.8087 or LACDC Visitor Center Manager Melanie Pena with the Discover Los Alamos program at melanie@losalamos.org.

Scene from the ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday on the relocated Los Alamos Visitor Center at the Community Building at 475 20th St. Courtesy photo

Scene from the ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday on the relocated Los Alamos Visitor Center at the Community Building at 475 20th St. Courtesy photo

Scene from the ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday on the relocated Los Alamos Visitor Center at the Community Building at 475 20th St. Courtesy photo