I have lived in Knoxville my whole life, so I like to think I know my hometown pretty well. Then I walked into the Visit Knoxville Visitors Center downtown and discovered an unbelievable treasure I somehow had missed. Shera Swanson Petty, Sr. Director of Marketing Partnerships took me on the tour.
Located at 301 S. Gay St., the Visitors Center is not just for people passing through town. It is a resource for those of us who live here, too — and I left wondering how many other longtime Knoxvillians have never stepped inside.
Local artist Curtis Glover designed the mural that greets visitors.
There are maps, attraction brochures, information about festivals, walking tours, family outings and places to explore throughout Knoxville and Knox County. The gift shop also showcases products from local makers. And this is home to WDVX’s Blue Plate Special, bringing live music right into the Visitors Center.
What struck me most was the amount of information gathered in one place. I went in thinking about visitors and came out with ideas for locals. It is exactly the kind of resource that can make you look at a familiar hometown with fresh eyes.
Visit Knoxville is the official convention and visitors bureau for Knoxville and Knox County, but its reach goes beyond the Gay Street center. The organization also operates the Sunsphere Welcome Center on Level 3 and manages the fourth-floor Observation Deck in partnership with the city of Knoxville and Knox County.
One point worth clarifying: The ticketing at the Sunsphere Welcome Center is specifically for admission to the fourth-floor Observation Deck. Visitors can purchase Observation Deck tickets online or at the Level 3 Welcome Center, then check in there at their reserved time before taking the elevator to the deck. The Welcome Center also offers regional souvenirs and visitor information.
And locals have an especially good reason to make a visit. Visit Knoxville’s 2026 Free Local Fridays give Knox County residents with a physical Knox County driver’s license complimentary admission to the fourth-floor Observation Deck on selected First Fridays. The remaining dates this year are Sept. 4 and Oct. 2. Space is limited to 40 people every 30 minutes and admission on those days is first come, first served.
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The Observation Deck offers 360-degree views of downtown Knoxville, World’s Fair Park, the Tennessee River, the University of Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains, along with exhibits, a timeline and memorabilia telling the story of the 1982 World’s Fair.
Both Visit Knoxville locations are easy to work into a downtown outing. But my best advice is simply this: Go in. Look around. Ask questions. Pick up a few brochures. You may discover there are things to do close to home that you have driven past for years.
Sweet Kalby Lawrence, who serves as the Visitors Center Manager for Visit Knoxville is there to help and answer any questions.
My visit also gave KnoxTNToday plenty of ideas.
Watch for future articles in our Friday “Close to Home” series featuring places, experiences and day-trip ideas drawn from information provided by Visit Knoxville. The goal will be the same one I had when I walked through that door: finding something worth discovering without having to travel very far.
Apparently, even after a lifetime in Knoxville, there is still plenty of my hometown left for me to explore.
Visitors Guide is a permanent link on our Daily Connections column.
This column will explore adventures that are ‘Close to Home, Far from Ordinary,’ and if you have some to share, please send them to news@knoxtntoday.com.
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