Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Mark Lewis appeared before the Wood County Commission on Monday to discuss the organization’s accomplishments over the past year which saw an increase in visitors to the Welcome Center near Point Park with 8,180 visitors in 2024. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — The Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau continues to see more people at its Welcome Center in Parkersburg to tell people about what attractions and accommodations are available in the area.

The Welcome Center, which opened in April 2022 after relocating to 113 Ann St., has continually seen more people each year with 8,180 visits in 2024 compared to 7,046 in 2023, said CVB President and CEO Mark Lewis who appeared before the Wood County Commission on Monday.

The bureau and Lewis won the Excellence in Tourism Development award at the 2025 Hospitality University conference held Jan. 26-28 at the Greenbrier.

“Our peers around the state recognized how key that was to tourism development in Parkersburg,” Lewis said, pointing to the increase in visitors to the center.

That has enabled them to double the attendance at the Oil and Gas Museum and at Henderson Hall.

“Everyone who stops at the center is going to (Blennerhassett) Island,” Lewis said. “That is our main draw.

“Being right there when those people come in we have the opportunity to tell them about Henderson Hall, Julia Ann Square and the Oil and Gas Museum.

“This has really increased our ability to get people to see more and do more while they are here. We have the opportunity to recommend restaurants, shops and other attractions.”

Lewis said they have given out information about Mountwood Park to people interested in mountain biking and other activities.

“There are so many opportunities opened up by that tremendous increase in the number of people we see in our new Welcome Center.”

He thanked the commission for their help in securing the building for them.

At their previous location at the corner of Seventh and Avery streets, they saw around 500 to 600 people a year.

“Over 8,000 is ‘off-the-charts’ better,” Lewis said, adding they have added a part-time position to their office and they have 24 volunteers who helped them this past year. “It is location, location, location…and having great people and we are blessed with both.”

The center has a kayak rental business and Lewis is hopeful that business will start renting bicycles soon. The community gardens have brought the local community to the center.

“Everything has just come together down there,” he said. “It is a good place.”

Lewis thanked Wood County Commission President Blair Couch for serving as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Greater Parkersburg CVB for eight years. Couch is stepping down from that position but plans to remain involved with the organization.

“I remain dedicated to supporting the growth of tourism in our community,” Couch said. “Our new Welcome Center serves as a gateway to all there is to see and do in the area, educates them on attractions and activities and creates a positive first impression of the community.

“We continue to advocate for our area, innovate new and compelling ways to market our assets, and leverage our strengths to make sure our target audiences know Greater Parkersburg is an amazing place to visit.”

Commissioner Jimmy Colombo said many people are planning short-term vacations that last a day or two that people can do in a drive that takes one tank of gas to get to and utilizing social media to gather information about an area.

“I can see that happening,” he said, adding the people at the center are helpful to those visiting the area.

Lewis said they are marketing the area to people in Pittsburgh as well as trying to increase the number of motor coach tours coming to the area. People plan trips based on Top 5 or Top 10 things they can do in an area. If people know more about what is happening, the more likely they will be willing to spend money which helps the local businesses that cater to tourism.

“We have good things in the works and we are looking towards another great season,” he said. “It is about being there for our guests and our visitors.”

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com