The Colorado Welcome Center in Cortez will have an open house in a week, and members of the public are invited to be “reintroduced” to the center and to see what’s new.

The event is being hosted by Mesa Verde Country, which assumed operations of the Colorado Welcome Center in May.

“We are excited about the changes that have happened over the summer at the welcome center, and we invite folks who haven’t been into the center in a while to come check it out,” said Kelly Kirkpatrick, executive director of Mesa Verde Country.

The Cortez site is one of 10 official welcome centers across the state, most of which are along the state border and accessible by the major highways leading into Colorado. They aim to provide local and regional travel information for visitors.

In Cortez, the center has maps, area brochures, a public computer, pull-through RV parking, exhibits of ancestral Puebloan artifacts, and occasional artist displays related to the deep archaeological history of the area.

Over the summer, Kirkpatrick said, the center added a huge map of the state of Colorado.

The upcoming open house will take place on Aug. 29 from 4:30-8 p.m. at the Colorado Welcome Center, 928 E. Main St. Refreshments will be served, and musical entertainment provided by singer-songwriter Lissa Hanner.

ealvero@the-journal.com