Six years after being closed to the public, the Sideling Hill Welcome Center is officially open for business.
Known as a gateway to Western Maryland, the center is home to the history, beauty, and adventure offered throughout Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties. The grand reopening ceremony was held Friday afternoon with Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford, Hancock Mayor Daniel Murphy, and a group of Western Maryland officials.
"Re-opening the Sideling Hill Welcome Center does more than signify the return of this popular attraction in Western Maryland," said Lt. Governor Rutherford. "The center was closed for almost six years to cut costs and its opening will reap economic benefits for businesses throughout Western Maryland."
In the 1980s, a section of the Western Maryland mountains were blasted away to create room for Interstate 68. The explosion uncovered rocks that are hundreds of millions of years old, creating a site that is considered one of the best rock exposures in the northeast. Researchers from all over the world travel to Washington County to take advantage of the rock formation's views and accessibility.
Attached to the site is a rest stop and a pedestrian bridge that crosses I-68, offering stellar views of the man-made pass and the surrounding area. Inside the welcome center is a four-level exhibit and a geological time spiral of the earth's history.
Reopening Sideling Hill was a collaborative effort between the Department of Commerce's Office of Tourism Development and the Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration. SHA owns and maintains the center while Tourism operates and staffs the buildings.
"The center's staff provides travel information that directs visitors to the small businesses located just off the highway, and is a valuable marketing asset for the region," said Hancock Mayor Daniel A. Murphy.
The welcome center operates from 8:30AM to 4:30PM, Thursday through Monday, and is closed on major holidays. The rest area is open all day, every day, from May to December.
