Montco Welcome Center at Valley Forge reopens

UPPER MERION » With social distancing markings, protective screens and signage, the Montco Welcome Center at Valley Forge National Historical Park is prepared with all the necessary precautions to greet visitors as it reopens in time for Labor Day weekend.

Located in the temporary Visitors Center, the Montco Welcome Center is a separate but integral part of the park experience and is now once again available to visitors, noted Rachel Riley, spokesperson for Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, which operates the Montco Welcome Center.

“When the park reopened in June most of the buildings were still closed. The Encampment Store was open to sell merchandise, but the regional travel information desk, which is our part, hasn’t been open,” Riley said. “We had to wait for park approvals and that sort of thing, but now that we’re able to open again it’s just perfect timing that it happens to be on Labor Day weekend, a nice long holiday weekend when the weather is supposed to be gorgeous.”

The opening of the temporary welcome center in 2018 allowed construction to begin on a $12 million dollar renovation to the current Visitor Center, which was built in 1976.

In addition to the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board’s Welcome Center, services include The Encampment Store, information desk, bike rentals and the park orientation film.

The temporary Visitor Center, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily