“It’s a sign of the times”, Aiken Co. leaders confirm visitors center will close June 30th

AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF) – After moving from one location to another over the last decade, the Aiken County Visitors Center will soon be closing its doors. 

The visitors center has been operating in different locations since it opened 15 years ago.

But County Administrator Brian Sanders says a lack of visitors in recent times has led to the decision to close.

“Most people do their research online before they visit. Now, visitor centers are not used as much as they were 20 or 40 years ago,” said Sanders.

Many businesses have been forced to close their doors in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sanders says that’s another reason why foot traffic at the center has been hard to come by.

“I think COVID did bring this change on a little quicker, because we were forced to learn new ways of communicating, and it sped up how we communicate electronically,” Sanders said.

While some have closed, other small businesses have opened since getting back to normal.

By closing the visitors center, Sanders says this will limit competition with other local retail vendors. 

“At the time when we did start the retail operation, there were very little of the t-shirts and that kind of thing in the downtown area. But things have changed in the last 15 years, so now there are lots of vendors. So, the retail operation—we just don’t want to compete with for-profit businesses, small businesses. That’s another reason,” said Sanders.

The county is currently paying $30,000 a year for the rental property on Laurens Street.

They created the county communications division on January 1st, and leaders feel that’s a better way to use that money.

“We’re going to incorporate not only tourism, but other important information for the public. We’re still going to be doing tourism, we’re still going to be doing tourism promotions—but in a more effective way,” Sanders said.

County leaders will be working with staff at the visitors center to ensure a smooth transition so they can stay employed.

Employees could be moved to the county government center. 

The visitors center will officially close on June 30th.