Visit Natchez Receives Key to Depot as the new Visitor Center on the Bluff

Opening date set for Tuesday, May 28

By Roscoe Barnes III
Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
May 22, 2024 | 11:42 AM

Mayor Dan Gibson and the staff of Visit Natchez recently celebrated the changing of the key to the historic Depot on the Bluff. The city conveyed the key to Visit Natchez for the southern part of the building that is now the new visitor center. It is officially known as Visit Natchez at the Depot. From left are Curtis Maroney, Ward 6 Alderman; Jessica Cauthen and Mallory Meng of Visit Natchez; Mayor Dan Gibson; Lynsey Gilbert, interim director of Visit Natchez, and Jawana Lowe, also of Visit Natchez; and Valencia Hall, Ward 1 Alderwoman.

NATCHEZ, Miss. — The City of Natchez and Visit Natchez kicked off National Travel and Tourism Week Monday, May 20, with a special ceremony in which Mayor Dan Gibson conveyed the keys to the historic Depot on the Bluff to the staff of Visit Natchez.

The facility, which will serve as the new visitor center, is officially named, Visit Natchez at the Depot.

“We’re so excited to get into this beautiful building….,” said Lynsey Gilbert, interim director for Visit Natchez. “We know that the community has really wanted another central location for visitors, and we’re really happy to provide that, and not only invite them here, but welcome them when they get here.  We’re just really thankful to everyone who was involved in this project.”

Visit Natchez will operate the south side of the facility as the new visitor center on the Bluff at 200 N. Broadway St., with plans to open on Tuesday, May 28. As for the north end of the building, the mayor said the Board of Alderman has approved a proposal to make it part of the Natchez Convention Center.

Gibson said the Depot is a beautiful place that people have loved and cherished for many years. “We are excited that we are one step closer to having our new downtown Visitor Center right here at the Depot, thanks to a lot of hard work,” Gibson said, as he acknowledged the work of Mark Carter of Wilmar Construction and Johnny Waycaster of Waycaster Dungan Architecture and Engineering.

Visit Natchez Interim Director Lynsey Gilbert received the key to the historic Depot and a City Proclamation from Mayor Dan Gibson on Monday, May 20. The Depot is the new visitor center that is now officially known as the Visit Natchez at the Depot.

The mayor was joined by Ward 6 Alderman Curtis Maroney and Ward 1 Alderwoman Valencia Hall. In addition to Gilbert, the Visit Natchez staff included, Jessica Cauthen, marketing manager; Mallory Meng, community and programs manager; Jawana Lowe, administrative assistant and receptionist; and Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager.

Other attendees included Bobby Dennis, director of NAPAC museum; Ashleigh Johnson, Miss Hospitality; Kevin Miers, the new director of Downtown Natchez Alliance; and Norma West, who serves as treasurer for the downtown organization.

“It’s great to see what was once a vacant building now being repurposed for such a great purpose and that is to become our new Visitor Center right here in downtown Natchez,”  Gibson said. “We will have a ribbon-cutting soon.”

During the ceremony, Gibson presented a Proclamation for National Travel and Tourism Week, which lasted from Sunday, May 19 to Saturday, May 25. According to Visit Natchez, the week is a time of celebration “that underscores travel’s essential role in driving the nation’s economy, cultivating vibrant communities and forging connections.”

Gibson agreed, saying tourism is very important to Natchez.

Reading from the Proclamation, he noted: “Tourism has for many years been a driving force in the City of Natchez, keeping our economy going even during hard times for almost 100 years.” Because of the growing number of people who visit Natchez each year, Natchez, on a per capita basis, is the top performing tourism destination of any small city in our region, he said.

Gibson also made an announcement about funding approved for the city. He said Natchez has been awarded a $362,000 grant funded by the Mississippi Legislature. The money is being appropriated through the Mississippi Main Street Association, he said.

“That $362,000 is going to allow us to transform this plaza and even the property behind us, and we will therefore be making great strides toward realizing our downtown master plans and ambitions for this property,” Gibson said.

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