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....The Logan County Visitor Center is funded by the Logan County Lodging Tax Fund to provide the traveling public with indispensable local and statewide travel information. The Logan County Visitor Center is part of the Colorado Department of Transportation rest area at the east edge of Sterling (Exit 125 on I-76).
....A small information center, located near the exit, was operated from the late 1980s to when the current building and rest area was opened in 2000.
....The Logan County Visitor Center is staffed by two part-time assistants along with 20-25 dedicated volunteers to assist travelers, welcome visitors, and serve as the first ambassadors for Sterling and Logan County. The director develops tourist center services and implements marketing strategies for Logan County tourism.
....The volunteers are often the first point of contact for travelers coming into Colorado or Logan County or Sterling. They answer questions on road conditions and weather conditions; give recommendations for things to do and places to eat; they hand out thousands and thousands of maps and material; they warm up baby bottles; call for tow trucks; reunite visitors with their lost phones, purses, spouses and children; they make endless pots of coffee; and give directions to every place imaginable.
....The volunteers keep track of local gas prices, menu items, and who sells souvenirs. They know all the attractions in the area, all the good eating places in Logan County, and the best way to get from point A to point B.
Of the local referrals provided to visitors, about a third are for attractions, a third are for restaurants, and a third are for shopping and lodging.
....The tourist center/rest area logs an average of 160,000 visitors every year. The top ten places from where our visitors are coming are: Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, California, Indiana and Arizona.
....According to research by the Colorado Tourism Office, people who stop at visitor centers stay 2-1/2 days longer, spend more money, and are inspired to make a return trip.
....The Logan County Visitor Center is open Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm. (winter hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m.)
....To inquire about becoming a volunteer, call Tourist Center Director Marilee Johnson at 970-522-0888 ext. 253. To learn more about the wonderful leisure activities and opportunities in Logan County,visit www.exploresterling.com.
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