Many people inside and outside of Georgia have heard of Peachtree City, but not all have had a chance to visit. Maybe they know about the iconic golf carts, have attended a concert or sporting event, or have a favorite TV show or movie that was filmed nearby. But now if they stop in, there’s more to see.
After celebrating its official opening on March 30, Peachtree City has a new front door and welcome mat. The Convention & Visitors Bureau office and visitor center, previously located next to the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, has moved into spiffy new digs on the second floor of The Avenue shopping center in the heart of the city. It’s open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. on Sunday.
Inside, colorful cityscapes line one wall, depicting the city’s residential, commercial and recreational offerings and telling the history of Georgia’s best-known planned community — and extoling the virtues of “discovering life at 15 mph.”
That, of course, is a reference to the city’s ride de rigueur, the golf carts that anyone can use to cruise nearly 100 miles of paved paths that wind through the area. Visitors can sit in an actual golf cart outfitted with a widescreen TV that shows a video tour of the city.
Another wall features a floor-to-ceiling 3D relief map of the city that was refurbished by artist Richard Smith in 2011 and has been carefully relocated. Life-size cardboard cutouts of several “Walking Dead” characters lurk in one corner, perhaps reminding guests that they need not fear zombies while dining or shopping.
Everyone else can come in and check out the latest in city swag. A gift area is packed with a variety of new items, from golf tees to workout Ts bearing the CVB’s new logo (featuring a star that alludes to the local film industry), along with hats, bags and the popular city-themed Christmas ornaments. There are also free guides and publications about local amenities and activities, such as the Southern Hollywood Film Tour.
The new center is part of a larger effort to market Peachtree City to a wider audience. The CVB’s main job is to attract corporate clients, meetings and sports events. Jennifer Johnson, its executive director, told the City Council in February about all the new plans, saying, “It’s going to be better for all of us.”
The CVB is also updating its website and social media, and the city government — a separate entity — is planning its own image refresh within a year or so. Real estate agents use the visitor center to sell clients on relocating and current residents can bring guests by to check the local events schedule or pick up souvenirs.
And if you can’t make it to The Avenue, the CVB has a mobile visitor center in the form of a stylized golf cart that makes appearances at various events.
“For us, it’s going to be much easier to do our job and be hospitable,” says Jennifer. “It’ll be very hard to miss us.”
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