Rebuilding SWLA

Visit Lake Charles Welcome Center - 2021 Year of Recovery

When the storms of 2020 compromised the roof of the Visit Lake Charles Welcome Center, it allowed wind and rain to wreak havoc on the structure. From the center of the lobby, when looking up, the sky was the only thing in view post storms. To rebuild, the facility had to be stripped down to concrete and studs. Remarkably, Adventure Point withheld the ravages of the storms and was left basically unscathed. The biggest hurdles to recovery were supply and demand of materials and supply chain issues – common themes found throughout Southwest Louisiana. In the interim, staff members relocated to Adventure Point and worked in make-shift spaces including conference rooms and storage areas.

August 2020

The Welcome Center officially reopened in July 2021 with an overhaul on the interior design and décor, but there were also several other changes made in efforts to accommodate more staff and functionality of the building in general. The interior color scheme was changed from warm red and gold hues to cooler tones of white and gray, and additional office space was constructed from areas that were previously used for storage. The other major change that was made is the Gumbeaux Gator store, which was converted into a modular meeting room. The staff at Visit Lake Charles is highly engaged in community activities, and this new meeting room is conducive for the Welcome Center to be used as a hub for creativity and synergy with community partners.

July 2021

The once-prominent gator topiary in the parking area did not survive the storms’ wind and saltwater intrusion and has been replaced by a unique landscape feature, complete with newly planted trees and inviting benches, called the President’s Circle. This space was dedicated last October to the three executive directors who shaped the CVB since its inception – Bernadette Monlezun Ponton (1975-1976); the late Marion “Butch” Fox (19761988); and Shelley Johnson-Hurley (1988-2019). August 2020

President's Circle