There have been about 15,000 to 20,000 visitors, including students, parents and community members since the center first opened. Penn State President Graham Spanier attended the grand opening event and voiced his desires of making Centre County a more popular tourist sight. In Centre County, we like company. We'd like people to visit often. Barbara Chaffee, deputy secretary for tourism and marketing for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, discussed the importance of tourism to Pennsylvania.
Tourism is the second-largest industry in Pennsylvania.