TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Big changes are coming to the Leon County Visitors Center at the old Amtrak station in Tallahassee.<\/p>\n
Last year, Leon County awarded a $2.6 million contract to repair and restore<\/a> its visitor information center after the May 2024 tornadoes severely damaged it.<\/p>\n After more than a year of construction and restoration, that work is finally wrapping up.<\/p>\n Leon County Tourism Director Kerri Post says the building withstood the tornado because of its historic structure.<\/p>\n \u201cIf 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\u2019t make buildings like that anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n The building previously served as an Amtrak station and was forced to close following the tornado damage.<\/p>\n Because the building is on the National Register of Historic Places, Post says it was important to maintain that designation during the restoration process.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was very important not just to maintain it from an architectural perspective, but also its part of our history and that\u2019s very important to us, so we\u2019re excited the restoration is nearing completion.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Post says it\u2019s something the county is committed to and the Visitors Center would welcome.<\/p>\n \u201cWe would love to have the passenger rail back, and again that is a Leon County strategic priority. I haven\u2019t heard any recent updates, but I know the county is very committed.\u201d<\/p>\n Post says the location is also important because the Visitors Center is within two blocks of more than 400 hotel rooms.<\/p>\n She says they are looking forward to getting back into their flagship building and bringing more people into Tallahassee and the community.<\/p>\n To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n