Johnny Appleseed Visitors’ Center Set to Reopen

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After being closed for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Johnny Appleseed Visitors’ Center officially reopened to the public on Tuesday, June 9, 2020.

New health and sanitization protocols have been implemented to assure the safety of all guests, volunteers and staff. Highlights of the new protocols include:

  • Masks will be required at all times for everyone entering the facility – including staff and the public;
  • One Way Entry/Exit – guests will enter only through the front doors facing Route 2, and exit through the back entrance;
  • Hand sanitizer stations have been installed throughout the building;
  • New touchless paper towels dispensers, faucets and soap dispensers have been installed;
  • Restrooms will be professionally cleaned to sanitation protocols twice daily;
  • Countertop shield guards have been installed;
  • The front counter and the “touchless” credit card machine will be wiped after each customer service interaction;
  • All “touch” surfaces will be cleaned frequently throughout the day by staff;
  • Signs and floor markers have been added throughout the building to mark social distancing of at least six feet.

Visit North Central Massachusetts hopes the increased safety measures will inspire confidence in visitors, speeding the recovery process for the local travel and hospitality industry.

“Reopening the Johnny Appleseed Visitors’ Center is an important step forward for our region,” said Diane Burnette, manager of the center. “We are being very careful and taking the necessary precautions to protect the traveling public, so they feel more comfortable in getting out to support our local restaurants, hotels, shops and attractions.

Since 1997, the Johnny Appleseed Center has showcased the twenty-seven communities of North Central Massachusetts and is home to the Big Apple of New England (which is nearing it’s one-year anniversary of its unveiling). The visitors’ center also proudly displays historical artifacts including a bronze sculpture of the young Johnny Appleseed that greets visitors outside the doors of the Visitors Center and 91 apple trees located on the premises, including three Rambo trees that are direct descendants of the last remaining tree known to be planted by Johnny Appleseed. Each year the Johnny Appleseed Visitors’ Center sees upwards of 165,000 visitors from all over and plays a significant role in the tourism efforts of North Central Massachusetts.

You can visit the Johnny Appleseed Center Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. It is located 1000 RT. 2 W, Lancaster, MA 01523.