New Visit Clinton, Iowa, Tourism Center to Celebrate Grand Opening May 7TH

Grow Clinton is inviting the community to celebrate the opening of the new Visit Clinton, Iowa Tourism Center, with an open house on Thursday, May 7, from 1 to 3 pm, at the Visit Clinton, Iowa Tourism Center, 719 S 2nd Street, Clinton, Iowa 52732. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 1:30 pm, coinciding with National Travel & Tourism Day and creating a perfect moment to showcase Clinton’s growing visitor economy and newly refreshed tourism space.

Visit Clinton is the tourism department of Grow Clinton, the community and economic development organization serving the region. By promoting local attractions, amenities, and events to key audience segments 50 miles and beyond, Visit Clinton helps drive new visitor spending and energy into Clinton’s economy.

In January 2026, Clinton completed a visitor profile study to better understand who is coming to the community. In addition to family travel, Visit Clinton targets group tour operators and small meetings.

Visitors and residents can explore upcoming events and experiences on the online tourism calendar at https://www.growclinton.com/visiting/community-calendar/.

The decision to establish a staffed tourism center reflects Grow Clinton’s commitment to hospitality and storytelling. Until now, the only dedicated visitor center has been an unmanned kiosk on the Clinton Riverfront; moving the center into the Visit Clinton, Iowa Tourism Center at 719 S 2nd Street, Clinton, expands services based on years of hands-on experience serving visitors.

“For 16 years, I’ve been in the hospitality industry, and I’ve seen firsthand that visitors stay longer and explore more when they can speak with someone who knows the community,” said Matt Parbs, VP of Grow Clinton. “Our front-line staff at local attractions already create those experiences, and we’re excited to join them at the tourism center.”

Tourism remains a major economic driver for Clinton County, delivering measurable benefits for local businesses and workers:

• Hotel/motel tax collections have increased 125% over the past decade
• Visitor spending has surpassed $70M for two consecutive years
• $17M in food and beverage spending
• $10M in retail spending 
• More than 500 direct tourism-supported jobs
• Nearly $22M in annual wages tied to tourism activity

“The visitor center will help turn pass-through travelers into overnight guests and increase local spending,” said Andy Sokolovich, president & CEO of Grow Clinton. “Last summer, I met two travelers from Pennsylvania on their way to Mount Rushmore, and, through a team effort, we convinced them to stay a few more hours in Clinton. Stories like that happen often, and with a dedicated visitor center, we can send even more people to experience Dambo, our museums, and, most importantly, our small businesses. A trusted referral is key, and our Grow Clinton staff delivers that trust every day.”

The tourism center will feature brochures, maps, videos, and a Clinton-themed gift shop with items like Matt Parbs’ Hidden History of Clinton book, Downtown Clinton merchandise, Clinton, Iowa, T-shirts, postcards, stickers, and more.

We encourage community members, partners, and visitors to attend the open house, tour the new center, and celebrate the momentum of Clinton’s tourism industry.

The center will be open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm at 719 S 2nd Street, Clinton, Iowa 52732.