Fully renovated and redecorated, Visit Luzerne County is proud to open its new location on Monday in the historic downtown Wilkes-Barre train station.
Ryan Evans | Times Leader
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Visit Luzerne County Executive Director, Alan K. Stout, reflected on the history of the new location. In its many iterations, from train station to night club, he said, ‘Think of all the hugs that were held here when people returned from war, all the tears that were shed when people were departing, all the presidents that may have walked through here when they were coming in to campaign on Public Square and so you can feel that in the building.’
Ryan Evans | Times Leader
A corner of the lobby is dedicated to local sports teams, the Penguins and the former Red Barons, now known as the RailRiders. Mr. Peanut, tied to Planters Peanuts, which used to be based in Wilkes-Barre, also makes a prominent appearance.
Ryan Evans | Times Leader
WILKES-BARRE — Visit Luzerne County’s new office in the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey train station will open to the public on Monday.
For Executive Director Alan Stout, the move offers a chance to look back, and ahead.
“Think of all the people that came through here,” Stout said of the renovated building, which was constructed in 1868 and served as an entertainment complex after its life as a railroad facility ended.
“Think of all the hugs that were held here when people returned from war, all the tears that were shed when people were departing, all the presidents that may have walked through here when they were coming in to campaign on Public Square,” Stout said. “You can feel that in the building.”
In its latest iteration, the building will host the county’s tourism agency, “where people can find information on activities, events, interesting a fun things to see and do here in Luzerne County and in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Stout said.
That includes nods to the building’s rich historic past, and the history of the region.
The guest area serves as both an homage to the history of the building, as well as highlights some of the major attractions in the region. Inside the lobby there are two giant canvas prints of the original Central Railroad of New Jersey train station, framed prints of Mohegan Sun Arena, F.M. Kirby Center, kayaking on the Susquehanna River, Eckley’s Miners’ Village, Mohegan Sun Pocono, Rockin’ The River Common and other images of local historical sites too.
Also, inside the lobby people can find a giant cutout of Mr. Peanut and nods to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. The main centerpiece when people walk through the entrance is a 9-foot color image of a waterfall at Ricketts Glen State Park.
“What we really wanted to do in the lobby is pay homage to history but also make sure that people realize this isn’t a museum,” said Stout. “This is a place where you come to learn about what’s going on today.”
The new home of Visit Luzerne County features an expanded visitors area where guests can find more than 100 free pamphlets, brochures and booklets showcasing activities to do in Luzerne County. Visitors can also pick up free copies of the Visit Luzerne County Visitors Guide, which is a 40-page booklet with information and color photographs highlighting Luzerne County’s attractions.
Originally built for the Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad, in 1871 the station and the line it served came under the control of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. Passenger service ceased in 1963, and the station closed completely in 1972. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
After the train station went under renovations it became a popular nightclub, restaurant and hotel throughout the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. During this time it was called The Station and Market Street Square. It spent about 15 years idle prior to the renovations which culminated in its latest use.
“The nightclub was a big part of this community for two and a half decades and so many people have come in and said ‘I met my wife here, I got engaged here.’” said Stout. “We’ve also had people tell us some stories of the train station.”
More changes to the landscape and outside of the building are to come in the near future. An official grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony will be held sometime in the spring, Stout said.
