Scenic 395 - The Official Guide 2025

14 2025 Scenic 395 Welcome Center helps find the fun “What do you do for fun around here?” This is often the question tourists ask when visiting a city for the first time. Howwe answer that ques- tion is key when considering that a thriving local economy relies heavily on drawing visi- tors from far and wide as they bring a demand for businesses to grow their services and offerings. From dining options to entertainment venues, mu- seums, transportation ser- vices, healthcare facilities and beyond, tourism brings vital dollars and enrich the commu- nity we live in. An increased number of tourists can also motivate our local government to improve local infrastructure from ev- erything frommaking smooth roadways to opening up EV charging stations around town. Keeping the benefits in mind, it had long been a dream of organizers to open an official Welcome Center in Ridgecrest. This dream came to fruition in November 2021 when the 22nd California Wel- come Center opened its doors at 880 N. China Lake Blvd.  “Our goal was to build a relationship with Visit Cal- ifornia. Oftentimes, no one really knows where Ridge- crest is. We knew that we had an opportunity to gain a lot of visibility with California Welcome Center program,” said Kari Crutcher, executive director. Generally, Welcome Cen- ters operate as a concierge for travelers. A bank vault, if you will, of valuable information and support services that exist within any given community. Maps, brochures, points of interest, restaurants and ame- nities are among the “buried treasures” that are waiting to be uncovered when visiting a Welcome Center. So, what does the local Welcome Center offer that the other 21 do not? An authentic, high-quality experience that tourists will remember for a long time. Said Crutcher, “Our Ridge- crest Welcome Center is very unique because of the exhibits we have.” For example, guests of the Welcome Center will be able to travel virtually to Death Valley National Park through the use of Oculus VR headsets avail- able at the center.  Said Crutcher, “This is 100 percent unique to our center. The virtual reality experi- ence that we have here at the Welcome 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 important for individuals who have acces- sibility 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 Film Experience 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 Rihanna’s mu- sic videos, Top Gun: Maver- ick, Iron Man, Star Trek, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Agents of SHIELD, andWestworld. Video presentations focus on sci-fi locations and continue to draw productions to the unique topography of Califor- nia’s deserts. Said Crutcher, “This is Visitors of the California Welcome Center - Ridgecrest can enjoy the many exhibits on display or take a virtual tour. Courtesy Photo Continued on Page 15 Ridgecrest Servicing All Types of RVs/Trailers - •Class A, B & C Motorhomes •Fifth Wheels •Travel Trailers •Popup Trailers •Horse Trailers •Car Trailers Specializing In - •Refrigerators •Air Conditioners •Furnaces •Water Heaters •Roo ng •Slideouts •Leveling Systems •And Much More 1034 WWard Ave, Ridgecrest, CA 93555 Ph: 760-446-5151 lindustriesrv@outlook.com www.lindustriesrv.com