EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. — When the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors voted earlier this year to eliminate funding for tourism-promotion agencies including the Visit El Dorado and the local California Welcome Center – El Dorado Hills, the fate of the region’s visitor-hub appeared uncertain.
The decision left the Welcome Center closed in July, until the El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce stepped in to keep the resource alive. According to a press release on the chamber’s website, the center has relocated to Suite 105, 2023 Vine Street (previously at 2085 Vine Street) in the Town Center.
“The CWC draws hundreds of visitors per month,”
said Debbie Manning, the chamber’s president and CEO. “These visitors support local businesses when they fill up their tanks, shop and dine here. They’re also looking for the best-kept secrets and things to do in El Dorado County. They’re appreciative of the many referrals we provide.”
Mr. Kevin Nagle, owner of the Town Center property, offered tenant-partner terms for the chamber’s relocation.
“We are delighted to have the chamber as a tenant partner at the Town Center,” he said. “Debbie and her team are a great business role model themselves for El Dorado Hills, and we are fortunate enough to have them.”
Timeline & Stakeholders
-
Earlier in 2025, the county supervisors cut off funding to outside agencies that had relied on tourism-related revenue streams.
-
The funding elimination led to the closure of the California Welcome Center in July.
-
The chamber initiated a scaled-down version of center operations using its own staffing and moved into the new space.
-
The relocation into the Town Center provides ~700 square feet designated for the Welcome Center and visitor restroom access.
-
Local businesses—particularly in tourism, dining and retail—stand to benefit if visitor flows continue unabated.
The decision by the county to cease funding promotional and tourism agencies has sparked concern from business owners who rely on visitor traffic. As one local business operator put it:
“We want people to know it’s not just October… it’s literally year-round.”
With the chamber’s intervention, the Welcome Center continues to serve as a waypoint for tourists and travelers exploring the region. By providing visitor information and referrals for local experiences—from historic sites to wineries and trails—the center plays a practical role in funneling business into the community.
What’s Next
A grand reopening celebration is being planned in the coming months, the chamber notes. Local residents and visitors alike are encouraged to stop by the chamber’s new location and say hello.
In the meantime, the chamber is committed to keeping El Dorado County “on the map and top of mind” despite the county’s decision to no longer actively market the region.
For El Dorado Hills and the surrounding county, tourism is not just scenic—it is economic. The interplay between visitor traffic, business revenues, and local employment means that the presence of visitor-services hubs such as the Welcome Center has broader implications. The chamber’s action sends a message of local resilience and community ownership of economic development.
