By: Tina Morrison
Did you know that the Athens-Limestone Visitors Center is located in the Beaty Historic District and housed in a beautiful brick building that was the original Athens Utilities building back in 1906? The building was also home to the Athens-Limestone Chamber of Commerce for many years. In 2010, the building was renovated and restored to its current beautiful state, with much of the original brick still exposed on the inside. The top level, accessible from a handicapped-accessible ramp off Beaty Street, has offices for the two tourism employees, plenty of room for informational brochures and rack cards, a mini-museum of Delmore Brothers information, restroom facilities, and storage space.
The ground floor level, accessible from the Visitors Center or from the Market Street entrance, is known simply as The Meeting Room. At one time this room was affectionately called The Domino Room by those who gathered here to play dominos for many years. The Athens-Limestone Tourism Association manages the rental of the facility, and it was rented over 40 times last year. Residents and tourists used our meeting room for many personal events like bridal showers, baby showers, celebrations of life, family holiday gatherings, gender reveals, and birthday parties. Companies have used it as a convenient place for meetings, blood drives, and job fairs. It was even used once last year for movie auditions.
As we start 2023, we want to let everyone know about the slight increase in The Meeting Room rental rates. A four (4) hour rental is now $170 (formerly $150) and the eight (8) hour rental is now $200 (formerly $180). The room is approximately 24′ X 24′, has a capacity of approximately 75 people and plenty of well-lit parking. It has a small catering kitchen with a sink, microwave, and full-size refrigerator and freezer. Other amenities included men’s and ladies’ restrooms, smart TV, central heat and a/c, and free Wi-Fi. Included with the rental is the use of folding tables and chairs at no extra cost. A $50 cleaning fee is refunded when the room is returned to its original cleaned condition. Wood floors and trim, cathedral ceiling, and spectacular views of Big Spring Memorial Park are waiting to serve as the backdrop for your special event. The meeting room is rented on a first-come, first-served basis and must be booked in person at The Athens-Limestone Visitors Center open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For more information or to check date availability, call (256) 232-5411 or go to https://www.visitathensal.com/visitor-center-meeting-room.html
By: Tina Morrison, Tourism Athens
April 19, 2024
