|
Contact: David Elkowitz, 432 477-1108
Big Bend National Park will be dedicating the newly expanded and renovated Panther Junction Visitor Center, located at the park’s main headquarters in Panther Junction, on May 1st at 3:00 PM. The public is both invited and welcomed to help celebrate this important park milestone. The renovation will boast a complete face-lift and expansion of the visitor center, new handicap accessible comfort stations, new hands-on interpretive exhibits, and a much larger, improved bookstore offering a wide array of educational materials. The multi-year project has been possible through a partnership involving Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Natural History Association, and fund-raising efforts of the Friends of Big Bend National Park. The Panther Junction Visitor Center was first built in the early 1960s as part of the Mission 66 effort to prepare for the National Park Service’s 50th birthday. Forty years later the facility, which was originally designed for the much lower visitor numbers of the 1960s, was in need of expansion and modernization. The historic character and architectural style for which the original structure was noted has been retained. This renovation occurs as the National Park Service approaches its Centennial birthday. The 3:00 PM dedication will feature a chance to hear from the partners involved in the project as well as refreshments and the chance to enjoy the new exhibits and bookstore. The Panther Junction visitor center will re-open daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM starting May 1st. "We are very pleased to be able to provide the new facilities for our visitors to enjoy at Big Bend National Park," said Park Superintendent Bill Wellman. "We invite you to stop by and enjoy the new exhibits, bookstore, and the hands-on learning opportunity they provide." |
Last updated: February 24, 2015