TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Big changes are coming to the Leon County Visitors Center at the old Amtrak station in Tallahassee.
Last year, Leon County awarded a $2.6 million contract to repair and restore its visitor information center after the May 2024 tornadoes severely damaged it.
After more than a year of construction and restoration, that work is finally wrapping up.
Leon County Tourism Director Kerri Post says the building withstood the tornado because of its historic structure.
“If that building was not 160 years old, it would have been completely eliminated by the tornado because it has three-foot-thick brick walls and they don’t make buildings like that anymore.”
The building previously served as an Amtrak station and was forced to close following the tornado damage.
Because the building is on the National Register of Historic Places, Post says it was important to maintain that designation during the restoration process.
“It was very important not just to maintain it from an architectural perspective, but also its part of our history and that’s very important to us, so we’re excited the restoration is nearing completion.”
Leon County officials anticipate the project will wrap up this fall, with the Visitors Center back open and ready for visitors by the end of the year.
The county also has a long-term goal of bringing passenger rail back to the area and making the building a working train station once again.
Post says it’s something the county is committed to and the Visitors Center would welcome.
“We would love to have the passenger rail back, and again that is a Leon County strategic priority. I haven’t heard any recent updates, but I know the county is very committed.”
Post says the location is also important because the Visitors Center is within two blocks of more than 400 hotel rooms.
She says they are looking forward to getting back into their flagship building and bringing more people into Tallahassee and the community.
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