Visit Amherst County

Visit Amherst County The Amherst County Visitor Center welcomes you to beautiful Amherst County, Virginia....the Perfect Passenger service would end in the 1960s. Mr.

The Amherst Depot is the home of the county's official Visitor Center. The Amherst Depot was built in 1913 by the Southern Railway when it took over the O&A and expanded its operation in Amherst County. Southern Railway contracted with Pettyjohn Company in nearby Lynchburg to construct a new passenger station, costing $4,712. The depot’s construction of longleaf pine siding and a red tile roof was

the typical architectural style of the early railroad stations. A ticket booth extended outward from the center facing the tracks with waiting rooms on each. Until the 1940s three passenger trains a day stopped at this depot. Freight pick up and drop off ended in the mid-1970s. Mail exchange was still available by train at Amherst– called mail on-the-fly by tossing out the outgoing mail and at the same time grabbing the catcher pouch on the mail crane. Train mail service would end in 1977. The depot then saw no action until 1985 when it passed into the private ownership of Marshall Mays, owner of Mays Farmers Service Co. in Amherst, for storage purposes. Mays’ agreement with Norfolk Southern (in whom Southern Railway merged in 1982) was that once he stopped using the depot, it had to be moved or torn down since he did not own the land it sat upon. In the spring of 1995 Mr. Mays, offered the depot to the Amherst County Chamber of Commerce as well as this .62 acre it now rests upon, approximately one quarter mile from its original location on Depot Street to the current address on Richmond Hwy in 2008. Fortune has smiled upon the depot, restored by the County of Amherst and, most fittingly, still standing near the train tracks. The depot is alive once again with activity and a renewed purpose to serve visitors and area residents.

We will be closed tomorrow, January 15th. We appreciate your patience and consideration.
01/14/2025

We will be closed tomorrow, January 15th. We appreciate your patience and consideration.

01/11/2025

The Thomas Jefferson Program at the Amherst County Museum and Historical Society will be rescheduled at a later date.

Don’t miss the parade, entertainment, and fireworks! Saturday, June 29th. Mark your calendars now!
06/06/2024

Don’t miss the parade, entertainment, and fireworks! Saturday, June 29th. Mark your calendars now!

FIRST RESPONDERS' CELEBRATION - TOWN OF AMHERST
Join us for the First Responders Celebration on June 29th beginning at 4:00pm until the conclusion of the fireworks display.

One of the many unique features of our Visitor Center is the lovely Amherst Depot Pollinator Garden
06/01/2024

One of the many unique features of our Visitor Center is the lovely Amherst Depot Pollinator Garden

What perfect weather for the Monacan Indian Nation Powow! Don’t miss this annual event celebrating Native American cultu...
06/01/2024

What perfect weather for the Monacan Indian Nation Powow! Don’t miss this annual event celebrating Native American culture.

05/29/2024
04/25/2024

Sarah’s half-way through her chemo treatments and will be celebrating by competing in the United Way 5K on the Runway this Saturday, so we’ll be closing at 2:00 PM.

Amherst County Tourism has recently launched a new website. You can find it at - https://visitamherstcounty.org/If you h...
04/23/2024

Amherst County Tourism has recently launched a new website. You can find it at - https://visitamherstcounty.org/
If you have a tourism related business and have an event that you would like to post on our calendar of events, we would love to help you let others know.
Please email your event information to - [email protected]

Discover the beauty of Amherst County, VA with our guide to the best things to see and do. Explore the top attractions from hiking trails to historic sites.

04/11/2024

We need someone to cover Sunday afternoons here at the Amherst County Chamber of Commerce and Visit Amherst County Visitor Center while Sarah, our Visitor Information Specialist, continues her battle with breast cancer. Please contact us if you’d like more information.

We're fortunate to have the Blue Ridge Parkway in our own backyard - please help keep it the treasure it is by keeping i...
03/13/2024

We're fortunate to have the Blue Ridge Parkway in our own backyard - please help keep it the treasure it is by keeping it clean! Cigarette butts, in addition to being unsightly, are a fire danger!

Pack it in, pack it out…it’s common sense, right?

The parkway is unusual among national parks because unlike the wild, untamed acres of Yellowstone or the Everglades, the parkway is a carefully designed and landscaped park. Following the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains through North Carolina and Virginia, its 469 miles of breathtaking views and managed greenery are maintained by park employees, volunteers and many partners.

The number one type of trash that maintenance employees find is cigarette butts at overlooks. This type of litter, in addition to other incorrectly disposed of trash, can take years to break down. It can also lead to unsafe conditions if it attracts wildlife to areas near the roadway. And, it decreases the naturally beautiful views of the parkway.

To preserve the beauty of the parkway for many generations to come, follow the stewardship ethic of "pack it in and pack out" for even the smallest items. Your actions make a difference.

Fun event coming up!
03/13/2024

Fun event coming up!

We appreciate your continued patience with our schedule, and the prayers, and healing thoughts you're sending to Sarah!
03/01/2024

We appreciate your continued patience with our schedule, and the prayers, and healing thoughts you're sending to Sarah!

03/01/2024

🚨CAREER OPPORTUNITY🚨

Come be a Fire/EMS Provider in our growing community!

💥 24/72 schedule
💥 updated pay rates
💥 paid training
💥 continuing education benefits
💥 fitness equipment at each station
💥 wide range of response landscape - urban to rural
💥 OUTSTANDING co-workers

For more information, visit the link below or scan the QR code.

https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=AG137

Amherst County Public Safety training to keep us all better protected!
03/01/2024

Amherst County Public Safety training to keep us all better protected!

Address

328 Richmond Highway, Suite A
Amherst, VA
24521

Opening Hours

Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm

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