WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Feb. 12, 2018) – Colonial Williamsburg’s Liberty Lounge, a complimentary space for ticketed military guests to relax and recharge in the Historic Area, welcomed its 100,000th visitor Feb. 3. The milestone comes less than two years since the lounge first opened its doors May 26, 2016.
Part of a broad military outreach initiative led by Elisabeth Reiss, wife of Colonial Williamsburg President and CEO Mitchell B. Reiss, the Liberty Lounge is staffed full-time by 63 Foundation volunteers with more than 435 years of collective service in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.
The donor-funded lounge, located in the Margaret Hunter Workshop just off Duke of Gloucester Street, offers amenities such as hot and cold beverages, wireless Internet access and a children’s area, and showcases vintage military memorabilia from Foundation collections.
“It was a dream of mine to create a special space for our military guests and their families to recharge while visiting Colonial Williamsburg,” said Elisabeth Reiss. “We could never have anticipated the overwhelming support the Lounge has received from guests and the community, and we are grateful to our volunteers, donors and corporate sponsors for making it all possible.”
Elisabeth Reiss added that the Liberty Lounge assists volunteers and staff with communicating the year-round military discounts and offerings available to Colonial Williamsburg guests, including complimentary and discount admission through the Honoring Service to America program, sponsored by the Home Depot Foundation, and discounts on Colonial Williamsburg hotels, food and beverage, military retreats, golf and spa services.
In the wake of the Liberty Lounge’s milestone, Colonial Williamsburg expands its on-site amenities for military guests President’s Day weekend with the opening of a new military information desk at the Colonial Williamsburg Regional Visitor Center. The desk will be staffed full-time by Foundation volunteers and will help drive awareness of Colonial Williamsburg military offerings by orienting guests with military amenities, programs, exhibits and discounts. Information on scheduled demonstrations involving musket and cannon fire will also be available to guests who would like advance notice.
In addition to funding from generous anonymous donors, corporate sponsor Royal Cup supplies tea, coffee and beverage compliments to Liberty Lounge.
Additional information about the Liberty Lounge and Colonial Williamsburg military outreach is available at Colonial Williamsburg ticketing locations, online at www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/military or by calling 1-855-296-6627 toll-free. Information is also available by downloading the free Colonial Williamsburg Explorer app via the Apple App Store and Google Play, and by following Colonial Williamsburg on Facebook and @colonialwmsburg on Twitter and Instagram.