Kiosk gives virtual tour of Pocahontas park
By Lynn Warren STAFF WRITER

Visitors to Pocahontas State Park will soon be able to take a virtual tour of the park, and access maps, schedules, program descriptions and more via a new onsite kiosk.

Through a partnership with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and Imperial Multimedia of Baraboo, Wisconsin, Pocahontas is just one of 31 state parks that will feature outdoor, interactive kiosks. The touch-screen systems will be accessible 24-hours a day and will be both weatherand vandal-resistant.

GPS based information will provide park visitors with a virtual tour of every trail in the park, printable maps and guides showing the location of points of interest within the park and other information tailored specifically to the needs and interests of individuals and groups. The kiosks will also offer visitors a menu of activities available in the region outside of the park itself.

The $300,000 project is patterned after a successful Imperial project installed in the Wisconsin State Park system.

"Our goal is to help our guests access a world of information about Virginia's natural places and the resources available to them in and around the state parks," said Parks Deputy Director Warren Wahl.

The kiosks will help in "promoting tourism and recreation based on economic development in and around the state parks," said Lawrence Fisher, Imperial's director of experience development. "The project has been developed to create opportunities for local organizations to participate with the option of adding enhanced content describing their business or services."

DCR hopes to recoup its investment from the proceeds of advertisements solicited by Imperial and installed on the kiosks. "The potential partners range from locally-owned and operated shops and attractions to national brands," explained Fisher.

All kiosks, including the one at Pocahontas, should be installed by next spring.