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Kane County visitor center to be remodeled; staff to operate from BLM offices during construction
Summary
Staff described a planned expansion and remodel of the Kanab visitor center, temporary relocation to BLM offices during construction and the project's funding from the tourism fund balance rather than ongoing operating budgets.
Kane County staff outlined plans to expand and remodel the Kanab Visitor Center and to operate temporarily from a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) office while construction proceeds.
Megan, visitor-center manager, told the board the center recorded roughly 24,155 visitors in 2024 and that the facility currently has a single public restroom; the remodel will add guest amenities and a 24/7 lobby kiosk. The county plans to add a connected building to the west and orient a clearer south-facing front entrance. The remodeled facility will place the visitor functions in the new portion and convert the current space into offices.
Staff said the county followed procurement procedures (RFP) and selected Maxwell Construction with design work from IronRock. Megan said the team expects to begin construction in spring 2025; staff estimated they will be out of the main building for roughly eight months to a year depending on schedule and permitting. The visitor center will operate from space offered by the local BLM field office during construction.
Jeanette clarified project funding: the remodel will use tourism fund balance that accumulated in prior years rather than drawing from the office's annual marketing or operational budgets. "This is money that had been previously reserved," Jeanette said, and staff asserted the use will not reduce the operating budget available for marketing or mitigation work in the current year.
Staff said one program objective for the remodel is to provide an accessible 24/7 lobby experience and interpretive kiosk so visitors can obtain maps and information outside staffed hours; staff expect that will capture additional visitor engagement and reduce missed visits when the center is closed.
Provenance: Visitor center and facilities discussion, Jan. 20, 2025 meeting (transcript excerpts where Megan and Jeanette described counts, design and funding).
