Exploring the Value of Interstate Welcome Centers

During a drive on Interstate 55 heading to Memphis, Tennessee, a journey through Arkansas offered unexpected discoveries. After entering Arkansas, a stop at a welcome center in Blytheville presented a unique opportunity to stretch and explore the area’s offerings. The facility, constructed with natural stone and beams, welcomed travelers with slate floors and displays celebrating the state’s natural beauty alongside various brochures.

On this particular trip, Arkansas served as a throughway en route to southwestern Tennessee. Inside the welcome center, a brochure about “Historic Dyess Colony: Where Johnny Cash’s Story Began” caught our attention. Although a Johnny Cash enthusiast, I was unfamiliar with Dyess Colony. Guided by an enthusiastic attendant, we decided to explore Dyess, discovering roads lined with histories of both the famous musician and the New Deal community that influenced his life and work.

The visit highlighted the joy of spontaneous detours. This experience resurfaces now due to the closure of Illinois’ eight interstate visitor information centers announced in September. According to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, travelers now rely on digital resources for planning, reducing the need for in-person visitor centers.

The role of visitor centers has transformed as travelers pivot to online tools for travel planning.

While the internet provides extensive information, there’s value in the personal touch of visitor centers. For example, while digital tools direct you to Chicago’s top hotels and attractions, they miss the stories behind roads like I-57 or I-55. These highways are filled with undiscovered treasures. On I-57, near Chester, you can find the birthplace of Popeye or explore Fort Kaskaskia. Along I-55, visiting the American Giants Museum in Atlanta reveals tales of iconic roadside statues.

Additionally, spots like the Monticello Railway Museum on I-72 or the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial on I-80 provide remarkable roadside history lessons. Such stops remain largely unpublicized without the guiding voice of welcome centers, leaving travelers unaware of these points of interest.

The significant visitor spending milestone of $50.2 billion reached in Illinois prompts the question of closing visitor centers that serve as gateways for many. Such centers, though only a fraction of the budget, welcome countless visitors to Illinois. Do we truly wish to close our state’s welcoming doors?

Frank Hosek, a freelance travel writer based near Chicago and a former HR director, invites readers to share their views. Letters of up to 400 words can be submitted to the Chicago Tribune’s editor at the provided email address.