Visitor services report rising demand; staff outline permits, Juneteenth and July 4 plans
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Summary
Director David Sharp reported 240 March visitor-center visitors (mostly passport customers) and seven-day visiting hours; staff Dina Weatherly said 140 event permit applications have been received, the film/photography policy now requires 90 days' lead, and the department is planning Juneteenth vendors and expanded July 4 and children's programming.
David Sharp, speaking for the visitor center, told the Visitor Services Advisory Committee on April 14 that March brought 240 visitors—many for passport services—and that the center will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as seasonal staff return. "We are, as I indicated in our stats for March, we had 240 people come through, mainly for passports," Sharp said.
Committee members asked about bookings and local attractions. Matt Peel and other business representatives described recent spikes in deliveries and early-season volume for stores and freight providers, and asked whether the island’s windmill restoration had an updated timeline; no definitive schedule was shared in the meeting.
Dina Weatherly, identified in the roll call as staff, gave a broader events update. She said the department has received about 140 event permit applications so far and is seeing applicants file earlier than in past years. Daffodil permitting is complete and the department is planning for Gauley and the wine festival in May. Weatherly noted a change to the film and photography policy: applicants must now request permits at least 90 days before scheduled shoots or pay a late fee. "We updated our film and photography policy, to ensure that we weren't fielding a lot of last minute inquiries," she said.
Weatherly outlined plans for Juneteenth (a vendor market and programming at the Meeting House and Higginbotham House), ideas for expanding July 4 programming including lamppost decorations, and a seven-day slate of children’s programming in July that will include a wellness Wednesday and evening line dancing for adults. She said additional shuttle buses will support events that moved locations and that the department is collaborating with partners including the Chamber and local museums.
The committee approved the January 13 minutes by roll call earlier in the meeting, and David Sharp announced the next meeting date (May 12). A motion to adjourn carried by roll call votes.
