Happy 30th Birthday!!
The Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center opened in the spring of 1989 and has offered travelers and tourists a welcome stop between endless miles of fields and open spaces along US Highway 17 in Northeastern NC. Located in Camden County, just three miles south of the Virginia and North Carolina border, the center has expanded and evolved over time. Originally, one compact building provided restrooms and tourism information. Attendance exceeded the projected visitation, and in a short time, plans to add an additional building were developed, creating a new tourism office and the original building was converted into Rest Rooms.
Many travelers are pleasantly surprised to see sailboats and trawlers tied up to the 150’ face dock, located on the banks of the historic Dismal Swamp Canal. This Visitor Center welcomes both highway and waterway travelers entering or leaving our beautiful state. Today’s travelers can also visit the Dismal Swamp State Park, a North Carolina State Park, adjacent to the Welcome Center property, to explore trails, visit exhibits or learn more of the history of the Dismal Swamp in their attractive Visitor Center. Camden County Parks and Recreation manage a paved trail which lies between the waterway and the highway, beginning at the end of the State Park’s property. This facility is owned by NC Department of Transportation and tourism office is managed by Camden County.
Today our staff continues to provide updated tourism information for all of North Carolina, and promoting the attractions in Northeast North Carolina. To date, over 16 million travelers have visited this complex.
In 2018, the Center was noted in USA Today as one of the best Rest Areas in the nation, while Architectural Digest declared it “One of the most beautiful Rest Areas in America”. We invite you to share your own opinion! Stop by to wish us a Happy Birthday and pick up a free postcard!