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People driving through South Routt County and looking for something to do now have a place to stop.

A welcome center was opened Wednesday in the lobby of the Black Mountain Tavern in Oak Creek. The South Routt Economic Development Council, the tavern owners and other volunteers are sponsoring the welcome center.

There is a computer on which residents and visitors can look up activities online, as well as a brochure rack for local businesses to advertise.

"I think it means a tremendous amount to South Routt," said Bea Westwater, president of the Stagecoach Property Owners Association.

The community has been trying to set up such a welcome center for the past few years, said Ken DePaul, president of the South Routt EDC.

"This is just helping us to define, what can people come to South Routt to enjoy and stay a couple days (to do)," DePaul said.

A permanent visitors center will be built when the Old Town Hall is renovated and turned into a museum, which will happen in the next few years.

In the meantime, the welcome center in the lobby of the Black Mountain Tavern should start catching the attention of residents and visitors, letting them know that South Routt has a lot to offer.

"It's important because, first of all, it's going to establish that we have a viable business community," DePaul said. It also encourages visitors to stay in the area for a few days instead of just driving through, he said. Encouraging tourists to check out local businesses is key to the success of those businesses, he said.

The South Routt EDC is strong this year, DePaul said. Between 30 and 40 people are showing up for meetings, which feature different guest speakers each week. The group has high hopes for the rest of the year.

For the temporary welcome center, two computers were donated by G. & S. Recycling, which recycles electronic equipment.

The brochure rack at the welcome center was donated by Lynne Miller, owner of Steamboat Brochure Delivery. Miller owns the 73 brochure racks across Steamboat Springs.

People are familiar with brochure racks and attracted to the colorful, informative brochures, she said, so they almost always stop for a look. Brochures are a good way to advertise because people can take brochures, stick them in their pockets and make calls later, she said.

The rack now is filled almost entirely with brochures from Steamboat-area businesses, but once South Routt businesses make their own brochures, those brochures will be put on the rack.

Eventually, the entire rack will be filled with South Routt business brochures, said Dan Bubenheim, who owns Black Mountain Tavern with Doug Diamond.

"This is our motivation now, to get (businesses) to come forward with whatever they have to offer," Bubenheim said. "People can physically come in and look at this and say, 'Oh, there is horseback riding.'

"What this is, is a foundation for people to realize that South Routt is the gateway to the Flat Tops Wilderness, home of the best fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, camping and snowmobiling in Colorado."

Diamond said he hopes the welcome center will encourage more visitors.

"South Routt is the smart alternative," Diamond said. "It's a hop, skip and a jump from Steamboat and absolutely gorgeous, and the people here are so friendly."

He said businesses are supportive of each other and collectively are working to encourage residents and tourists to take advantage of local services and products.

"We look out for each other -- that's the bottom line," Diamond said. "It's just really a good atmosphere, entrepreneurs sticking together."

The new South Routt Welcome Center is in the lobby of Black Mountain Tavern, which is in the Historic Bank Building on Sharp Avenue. Signs will be put up to direct visitors to the welcome center.