The Gros Morne National Park visitor centre now boasts a $12-million makeover that staff say was sorely needed. The space now has more parking, modern washroom facilities, a new reception space and a sustainable design inspired by the landscape in the park. "We have a brand new entrance that gives a big sense of arrival for visitors, a sense they have come to something really beautiful and special, [with] Gros Morne Mountain visible behind the building in the distance," said Sheldon Stone, who works with the visitor experience team.
Stone has worked there since 1991 and says talk of renovating the popular hub started two winters ago. New design "The old visitors centre was more than 40 years old. And when you think of all that's happened in the national park and the region in [those] 40 years, we have a lot more visitors coming.
And the old space just wasn't meeting that need anymore," he said. The visitor centre sees tens of thousands of tourists each year looking for advice on the best hiking trails, accommodations and services in the park. On an overcast muggy summer day, the space is buzzing with people, including Richard Poirier from Eastern Townships, Que.
He and his wife stopped in for a map. "As a retired architect I'm totally impressed. It's fantastic architecture," said Poirier.
The reception space at the newly renovated visitor centre displays an exhibit about Mi'kmaw culture within the national park. The full exhibit will be finished next summer. (Colleen Connors/.