Ardmore Welcome Center reopens to public

ELKMONT, Ala. (WHNT) — Travelers headed south on I-65 now have a place to stop as they cross the state line into Alabama.

After two years of construction, the Ardmore Welcome Center is once again open to visitors.

“You know this is the welcome mat to Alabama and our great state,” said Rep. Andy Whitt at the ribbon cutting Wednesday.

The center is the first place may visitors see, and the staff is prepared to recommend travel destinations across Alabama.

“The great thing about the staff here is that many of them have been here for many years,” said Alabama Tourism Department Director Lee Sentell. “They can make good recommendations on good place people can check out and visit.”

The previous welcome center stood in Elkmont for more than 50 years, and it was time for an update.

“We do have dual sides now, so that we can close one side, clean while the other side is open and vise versa,” said Alabama Department of Transportation North Region Engineer Curtis Vincent.

Visitors can expect more space and information, including real-time traffic details, but the center is reopening without its most notable landmark, the Saturn 1B rocket.

“As a child we used to picnic under the rocket, me and my family, so it’s close to us and it’s an iconic treasure we had here in Alabama,” Whitt said.

Whitt is leading the charge in the Alabama Legislature to bring a rocket back to the welcome center. The previous Saturn 1B was pulled down in 2023 after its state of deterioration was deemed a safety hazard.

“We have $7 million to begin building a rocket, a replica,” Whitt said. “The plans are going out now. It’s working on an RFP, so we’re moving forward with that. I’m anxious to see the rocket go back up.”

The funds have been set aside by the legislature over the past tow budget years.

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