NEDERLAND — As the days get brighter and warmer, Nederland’s streets, sidewalks, and available parking become more and more packed with visitors, all looking to experience some mountain town charm.

But the influx in curious adventurers also highlights one of Nederland’s most glaring issues in tourist relations: its lack of a steadily open Visitor’s Center. 

The center has fallen on some tough times over the last few years, seemingly exacerbated by a shakeup in management by Town staff and an increased merchandising budget due to the tie-in with the experimental NederDays festival.

In 2024, the Nederland Visitor’s Center experienced staffing shortages and operated at a loss of $41,000 for the year. Without an immediate solution to these issues, the center was almost shuttered throughout 2025, and also experienced a small appliance fire. Despite this, the center still saw a great number of visitors last year, including 2,300 in July. 

But according to Town Manager Jonathan Cain, the doors to the Visitor’s Center are set to open again this May. Preliminary work has been done over winter to ensure the center receives the proper management and staffing required for its success. 

“What’s in the budget is to run it for the summer and get it back to where it’s functional,” Cain reported during a recent meeting of Nederland’s Planning Commission, stating that the Visitor’s Center’s budget is $44,000 for 2026, including $25,000 for salaries, as the Town’s intention is to have it open for regular hours from May through October. 

A Town department head will be placed as an overhead manager for the center, with the authority to oversee two to three part-time staff members scheduled 20 to 25 hours a week, Thursday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

“What we need is salaried staff that can really own the space,” Cain said, referring to a locals-focused vibe, with knowledge, and messaging to be presented to visitors as they pass through. The Town hopes to work on that vibe and messaging with help from Nederland Downtown Development Authority’s (NDDA) Public Art Committee—led by local artists including Kathy Bremers, Danielle Crouse, and Meg Fox.  

There has been discussion with the NDDA regarding their relationship with the Visitor’s Center and the potential of their providing financial assistance for its operation, Cain reported. The center can continue to be utilized as a hub to Nederland’s downtown district. 

All of this progress came after the Board of Trustees deliberated on February 3 to determine whether the Visitor’s Center should continue to be run by the Town or be leased to a third-party contractor to take over its management and operations.

Cain provided Trustees with a newly drafted mission statement for the Visitor’s Center, as well as a Scope of Services for the ideal candidate needed to run the center. 

Despite there being several local businesses and organizations who expressed their own ideas for how they would run the center, Trustees approved Cain finding an ideal candidate to run the center.