Ohiopyle State Park - Falls Visitor Center Interpretive Plan

Client: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Design of the new Ohiopyle Visitor Center and development of an Interpretive Plan and Visitor Experience Plan began in 2008

Because of the emphasis on interpretive, educational and program elements in the project’s goals, it was decided to incorporate interpretive planning in the design process at the earliest possible point. Thus, Imperial Multimedia joined the Design team in July 2008 and has participated in all elements of the design process.

Much of the early work consisted of contributing to the overall building design—building location, orientation, and designation of functional areas with Imperial Multimedia emphasizing the guest perspective. In August 2009, Imperial Multimedia met with DCNR and Ohiopyle State Park Management and Interpretive staff for a multi-day planning workshop. The goals of the workshop were to ensure the Visitor Center Exhibits Plan’s interpretive goals, objectives, themes, sub-themes, storylines and exhibit concepts were fully integrated into the overall Parks Environmental Education and Interpretive Plan to further ensure that they met the staff’s interpretive and operational needs.

The Falls Visitor Center Interpretive Plan for Ohiopyle State Park was completed in December of 2009. Located primarily in Fayette County, in Southwestern Pennsylvania, Ohiopyle State Park encompasses 20,500-acres of rugged natural beauty and falls within the Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape Initiative.