The grand opening of the Mount Rainier Regional Visitors Center in the Elbe Depot took place on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008. It was a huge success with over 50 people visiting the center throughout the day. Special political guests included Lewis County Commissioner Lee Grose, Eatonville Mayor Tom Smallwood, and Senator Marilyn Rasmussen.
Randy Oxford, one of the promoters of the Mount Rainier Music on the Mountain Festival, led the group with a toast of sparkling cider in champagne glasses. He congratulated Gary Johnson of the Mineral Lake Event Center and Ramona Sheppard of the Mineral Lake Lodge, for all of their hard work to get the center
going. Gary spoke to the group about needing volunteers and Ramona introduced the volunteers that were present. Marilyn Rasmussen gave a magnificent speech about the vision of the regional center and how important it will be for the Elbe, Mineral and Morton areas as well as for the Eatonville, Ashford, Mount Rainier and Packwood areas. She said her dreams of seeing the areas opening up for tourism with the train, will begin with this visitor’s center. She was very impressed with this volunteer effort. Reporter Jeanette Chamberlain from the Morton Journal was there to report on the event and took photos of part of the volunteer group that is responsible for this grassroots effort.
Cookies and refreshments were provided by Kim LaFrance of the Rainier Mountain Lodge
and Fran Dimmitt of the Rainier Overnighter.
Donations are still being accepted to finish the kiosk that is being built outside to house brochures and a computer terminal. If you wish to make a donation or volunteer at the center, please contact
Ramona Sheppard at 360-492-5253 or Gary Johnson at 360-492-5039.
The Visitors Center is open Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday from Memorial Day weekend through Halloween.
Contact us at
coordinator@rainiervisitors.com for operating hours.
Above L to R: Gary Johnson, Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen, Randy Oxford
We are a non profit organization consisting of volunteers
who are committed to promoting year round information, events and tourism for
our region.
Dispatch News is a local news organization which always supports our efforts.
provided the beautiful text used in conjunction with the photography in our site banner.
Rene Celeridad donated her web development services in the creation of this site.
www.digital-inspirations.com
He shot the forest, eagle, and waterfall used in the rotating banner at the top
of this site.
www.bobharbison.com
He shot the train and the photo of Randy Oxford with his trombone on the Events
page.
cjcj3@hotmail.com
He shot the Daisies photo in the rotating banner at the top of this site.
www.minerallakeeventcenter.com
He submitted photos of the Visitor
center with Senator Rasmussen on the About Us section of this page
www.memoriesmadedigital.com
He provided all of the historical photos listed on the History page.
www.mountaintimewellness.com
He shot the photo of the tulips fields between Morton and Chehalis on the Local Communities Maps page.
www.minerallakelodge.com
She submitted the photos of Mineral Lake mist and
Mount Rainier from Mineral Lake used in the rotating banner at the top of
this site. The Sunset picture used in the rotating banner was taken by a guest
of the Mineral Lake Lodge.
chamberlain3@gmail.com
She shot the photos of our grand opening.
- Senator Marilyn Rasmussen
- Jack Dimmitt
- Brian Petersen
- Mike Gordon
- Fran Dimmitt
- Kim LaFrance
- Gary Johnson
- Randy Oxford
- Ramona Sheppard.
- Ron Sheppard
- Bobbie Johnson
- Terry LaFrance
- Steve Downs
- Greg Lund
- Jillene Lund
- Toby Breeden
- Karla Potter
- Claudia Page
- Dave Anderson
- Don Johnstone
- Matt Johnstone
- Ernestine Cox
- Roger Wood
- Terri Wood
- Amund Wilkinson
- Leslee Dunlap
- Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad
Contact us at
coordinator@rainiervisitors.com for operating hours.