Scenic 395 - The Official Guide 2024

10 2024 Scenic 395 Ridgecrest’s Finest Hotels Complimentary hot buffet breakfast and internet, also heated pools and spas at both locations! Great weekend and holiday rates available 104 East Sydnor Ave. Ridgecrest, CA 93555 (760) 446-1968 113 E. Sydnor Ave. Ridgecrest, CA 93555 (760) 446-1630 Ridgecrest the “buried treasures” that are waiting to be uncovered when visiting aWelcome Center. So, what does the local Welcome Center offer that the other 21 do not? An authentic, high-quality experience that tourists will re- member for a long time. Said Crutcher, “Our Ridgecrest Welcome Center is very unique because of the exhibits we have.” For example, guests of theWelcome Center will be able to travel virtually to Death Valley National Park through the use of Oculus VR headsets available at the center.  Said Crutcher, “This is 100 percent unique to our center. The virtual reality experience that we have here at theWelcome Center promotes Death Valley. We know that Ridgecrest is often thought of as the “gateway to Death Valley,” but not all visitors in Ridgecrest are actually traveling to Death Valley. Our virtual reality experience offers a fantastic, realistic tour of the national park for those who are unable to visit.” This is particularly im- portant for individuals who have accessibility or mobility issues and are not able to experience the outing in person. More importantly, the exhibit is just plain fun for visitors. A TV and FilmExperience exhibit is also available to visitors, featuring projects filmed in Death Valley, Lone Pine, Red Rock Canyon, and other areas around the region. QR codes can link to location maps that include the sites for Lady Gaga and Rihan- na’s music videos, Top Gun: Maverick, IronMan, Star Trek, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Agents of SHIELD, andWestworld. Video presentations focus on sci-fi locations and continue to draw pro- ductions to the unique topography of California’s deserts. Said Crutcher, “This is also unique to our Welcome Center. For us, it’s perfect because we manage not only the visitor’s bureau but also the film commission. Tourism and the film industry often work hand in hand, so it was the perfect marriage for us to build that exhibit. Many of our visitors are here for film produc- tions.” Along with the TV and Film Experience, the CWC now features the top five Amazing Archaeological Adventures of California, appealing to those with more historical interests.  Said Crutcher, “The thing that we hear the most often, mainly from the locals, is that from the minute that they walk in, it is a ‘Wow.’ No one realizes that we have these exhibits.” So, what are the top three locations visitors to theWelcome Center ask about? The Trona Pinnacles, Death Valley, and the national parks such as Yosemite. Said Crutcher, “We have many visitors who stay the night while passing through and heading north to the national parks.” A cool gift shop inside can be found in the hub of theWelcome Center. It is filled with all things Ridgecrest/California related, and it features the work of some area artists. “We are proud to feature a few local artist’s items available for sale on consign- ment at theWelcome Center. We are working towards featuring new artists in the coming year,” said Crutcher. She also added, “TheWelcome Center is the perfect place to purchase souvenirs. Ridgecrest locals are discovering it is the best place to find Ridge- crest merchandise.” As with all Welcome Centers, visitors can find brochures, mag- azines, and advertising information for local attractions, dining, and hotels in and around the area. TheWelcome Center is also available to the public for hosting parties, receptions, meetings and other community events. TheWelcome Center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Con- tact theWelcome Center in Ridgecrest by calling 760-375-8202 or info@goRidgecrest.com. Continued from Page 9