MONUMENT VALLEY — The new Monument Valley Visitor Center opens May 5, when state officials will hand the keys to $2.8 million facility over the Navajo Nation in a sunrise ceremony.

The center, located at the Monument Valley Tribal Park entrance on U.S. 191 at the Utah-Arizona border, is expected to see about 500,000 visitors each year, according to the Utah Office of Tourism.

"We are delighted this state-of-the-art facility is opening for travelers," said Charlie Delorme, San Juan County Visitor Services director.

For more information about the center, visit www.utah.travel.