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Show Full-service visitor center proposed for 1-15 rest stop Bv RACHEL C. MURDOCK About 44,000 cars go by the i merican Fork rest stop in 1-15 ach day. To James Young, director t the Utah County Travel Council, aat number represents an un-jpped un-jpped tourist resource. Now Young and the travel council avea plan to tap into that supply. The travel council has plans to ujld a visitors center at the southbound rest stop that would iclude rest room facilities, a fast jjod outlet and a retail gas Deration. 5 "We're getting about three to four ercent of the 44,000 cars into the rea daily," said Young. "And even lose that do come off 1-15 have othing to draw them further." The new visitors center will emedy that problem. I "The building is designed so that nyone who stops to use the testroom or eat or whatever will go irough the tourist information ijrea," said Heap, president of the llmerican Fork Chamber of Ijommerce and member of the j-avel council. i Heap said the visitors center will lake travelers aware of all that is vailable in Utah County. "We want iem to know that not everything is I Salt Lake," she said. Young agreed that many people stop in Salt Lake and drive straight through Utah County. "The opportunity is out there, we're just not stopping the people," Young said. "1-15 has the strongest potential for the county; it's a great resource." Workers at the retail operations will also encourage tourism, said Young. "When people stop to eat or whatever, they'll start talking to the counter worker, who may say, 'Oh, if you're going that way, you ought to go up Provo Canyon and see Robert Redford's place.' So the driver will go see Sundance, but then he'll also stop at Bridal Veil Falls and ride the tram to the top or buy a few things at the gift shop." In fact, a study done by Dan Jones and Associates for the state travel council shows that if people stop at a visitors center, they increase in-crease their spending in the area but about 33 percent and stay half a day longer, said Young. "We've identified this (visitors center) as a way we can get people here to visit. We're not the Disneyland or the Park City of Utah, but we have our own strengths," he sid. "This type of thing has been done . II would be designed to interest visitors in seeing more of Utah County. Artists rendering shows proposed visitors center, fast food restaurant and gas station proposed for southbound lane of 1-15 between American Fork and Pleasant Grove. The stop original building, then would lease a portion of it to the fast food outlet to offset building costs. "We're also looking for a national fast food chain because of the name recognition," said Heap. Young said the idea has been presented to UDOT, and they have agreed to hear a firm proposal at the end of May. Heap said the travel council is presenting the proposal to local Chambers of Commerce in an attempt at-tempt to gain their support. It will be presented to the American Fork See VISITORS on page 3 in other areas around the country," said Heap. "There's no reason why Utah shouldn't have the first one in the western part of the country." Due to some concerns about direct competition with local stations, the chances of getting a gas operation at the rest stop are about 30 percent right now, said Young. "In all probability, it will end up just a fast food outlet and a visitors center," he said. Either Utah County or the Utah Department of Transportation would provide funding for the wo id :,Vistors ted to i it it , scle'ntinued from front page y be; amber on MayT. sbotfraffic on I-15 is one of three otf iin groups the travel council has mtified as large potential clagirkets. The other two groups are wei-'S visitors and Senior Citizens. saii'We feel we have strong LDS they :lds. with BYU and the other LDS ;tilifes around the valley. So we've nltifijmed up with BYU in their "ling and will continue to mail to alumni," Young said. They also plan football weekend trips and temple triptours with wards and stakes. Members of the council recently visited Southern California and Souihern Utah, presenting tour packages to Senior Citizen groups. Young said they offer summer tours including attractions like the Heber Creeper, the Pageant of the Arts and the Sundance Summer Theatre |