SHEPHERDSTOWN – The Shepherdstown Visitors Center is moving.

On April 1, it will vacate its current location in the Entler Hotel building at 129 East German Street and relocate a block away to another historic structure, the Shepherdstown District Free School building at 201 South Princess Street.

Visitors Center Board President Meredith Wait said the decision to make the move was based on three factors: cost, space, and convenience. She said the new location will be significantly cheaper; provide a lot more room; and offer conveniences lacking at the Entler, such as bathroom and kitchen areas dedicated solely for the Center’s use, and multiple parking spaces for volunteers and visitors.

She acknowledged that the new location will not be as visible to tourists as the old one but said the Center hopes to overcome that shortcoming with new signage. She said it’s also hoped that the Center’s move will help boost businesses located on Princess and Washington streets by drawing more tourists in that direction.

Wait said the Center plans to hold an open house at its new South Princess Street location in a few weeks, as soon as it gets settled. In the meantime, she said, townspeople will be welcome to stop by any time after April 1 during regular business hours (10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily) to see the new facility.

The Center has been leasing a room in the Entler building since early 2010. That building is owned by the Historic Shepherdstown Commission.

The Visitors Center’s new landlord will be Shepherd University, which has owned the Free School building since the 1960s.