Ardmore Welcome Center Is Now Open

Travelers headed south on I-65 now have a place to stop as they cross the state line into Alabama. After two years of construction, the Ardmore Welcome Center is once again open to visitors.

The center is the first place may visitors see, and the staff is prepared to recommend travel destinations across Alabama.

The previous welcome center stood in Elkmont for more than 50 years, and it was time for an update.

Visitors can expect more space and information, including real-time traffic details, but the center is reopening without its most notable landmark, the Saturn 1B rocket.

There is still a push in the Alabama Legislature to bring a rocket back to the welcome center. The previous iconic Saturn 1B was pulled down in 2023 after its state of deterioration was deemed a safety hazard.

The funds have been set aside by the legislature over the past two budget years to build a new rocket, that fund currently stands at around $7 million dollars.