PRINCETON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Visit Mercer County opens Basecamp by Visit Mercer County, its new tourism office, visitor experience center and retail space, today, Friday, Oct. 23, with a grand–opening celebration from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Located at 858 Mercer Street in downtown Princeton,Basecamp is designed to be a starting point for exploring Mercer County, bringing travel information, local recommendations and official Almost Heaven merchandise together under one roof.
The name takes its inspiration from the purpose of a base camp: the place travelers start before heading out to explore. Basecamp applies that idea to Mercer County, helping visitors get their bearings and discover where to go next, whether they are planning a trail ride, a waterfall hike or a day exploring the county’s towns.
Inside, visitors can browse local travel information at a visitor kiosk and brochure rack, explore stories about people and places connected to Appalachian music, art, history and culture and contribute recommendations to the “Locals Know Best” board. The board invites residents and travelers to share their favorite places and experiences, making community knowledge part of the visitor experience. As an official Almost Heaven/West Virginia Tourism retailer, Basecamp also offers state-branded merchandise.
“The question we get most is, ‘Where should we start?’ Now we can say, ‘Start at Basecamp,’” said Jamie Null, executive director of Visit Mercer County. “We want people to stop in, ask questions and find out about places they might not have known were here. Some of the best recommendations come from the people who live here, and that’s why we wanted to include the ‘Locals Know Best’ board.”
Visit Mercer County has served travelers for more than 40 years. Basecamp marks the organization’s first combined retail and visitor information space and fulfills a long-term goal for Null and the Visit Mercer County staff.
Grand Opening Details
Residents, visitors and members of the media are invited to explore the new space during the public grand opening.
Regular hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Guests can explore the visitor kiosk, add recommendations to the “Locals Know Best” board, learn about Mercer County’s history and shop official Almost Heaven merchandise.
For more information about the new space and what visitors can expect, read Visit Mercer County’s What to Know About Basecamp.
About Mercer County CVB
The Mercer County Convention and Visitors Bureau is a non-profit destination marketing organization in Mercer County, West Virginia. Through digital and print marketing and social media, the Mercer County CVB promotes Mercer County and the municipalities of Athens, Bluefield, Bramwell, and Princeton. The CVB is the official tourism marketing organization for the county and is funded by the six percent lodging tax paid by visitors to Mercer County, West Virginia.
For more information about Mercer County and its various attractions and initiatives, please visit the Mercer County CVB website at https://visitmercercounty.com/.
