Here's what the $12M makeover of the Gros Morne National Park visitor centre looks like

The Gros Morne National Park visitor centre now boasts a $12-million makeover that staff say was sorely needed.

The space in Rocky Harbour now has more parking, modern washroom facilities, a new reception space and a sustainable design inspired by the landscape in the park.

"We have a brand-new entrance that gives a big sense of arrival for visitors, a sense they have come to something really beautiful and special, [with] Gros Morne Mountain visible behind the building in the distance," said Sheldon Stone, who works with the visitor experience team.

Stone, who has worked there since 1991, says talk of renovating the popular hub started two winters ago.

New design

"The old visitor centre was more than 40 years old. And when you think of all that's happened in the national park and the region in [those] 40 years, we have a lot more visitors coming. And the old space just wasn't meeting that need anymore," he said.

The visitor centre sees tens of thousands of tourists each yearlooking for advice on the best hiking trails, accommodations and services in the park.

On a recent overcast muggy summer day, the space was buzzing with people, including Richard Poirier of Eastern Townships, Que., who stopped in with his wife for a map.

"As a retired architect I'm totally impressed. It's fantastic architecture," said Poirier.

The federal government spent $12 million to turn the space into an accessible and inclusive experience for guests and community members. The renovations also focused on making the building sustainable, with builders installing solar panels on the roof and reusing certain wooden beams.

While the visitor centre officially opened in May, a large part of the redesign emphasizes the communities that surround the national park and showcases that collaboration with a large exhibitthat will be on full display next summer.

Community exhibits

The large reception space is currently home to temporary posters that display the connection to Indigenous groups in the region.

"Gros Morne is the national park and the communities. When people experience Gros Morne, it is the region. And they work so well together, they are so intertwined. They are such a part of the experience of this place. Right from north to south in the park we have communities that each have their own experiences that really complement what goes in the national park itself," said Stone.

"When you come to the centre, we hope to give you a sense of that, that it is Gros Morne the region that is welcoming you."

Stone says the large reception area, new kitchen and office spaces can be used by the community in the off-season.

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