The Vicksburg Senior Center took its first daytrip this week on the city’s brand new motor coach on what the center’s director hopes will be a slate full of adventure.

“For 14 years, I’ve been saying other senior centers go on trips, and we had no way of going on trips,” senior center director Jennifer Harper told members of Lions Club during their Wednesday lunch meeting.

The $172,000 bus unveiled in July carries 42 passengers and took a busload of seniors Tuesday to the Onward Store in Sharkey County. In addition to being a resource for seniors, the bus is essentially a mobile billboard for Vicksburg. The wrapping on the bus features steamboats, Vicksburg National Military Park, the Miss Mississippi Pageant and other iconic imagery of the city.

“It has various tourist attractions around Vicksburg. It really is a beautiful, beautiful bus,” Harper said.

Several other trips including one to the Canton flea market in October are in the works, she said.

“A great many people can’t travel by themselves,” Harper said. “There’s a lot of opportunity and hopefully it will enrich their lives.”

The bus was unveiled July 31. Vicksburg Convention Center and Vicksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau chipped in $50,000 to help pay for the bus, Harper said.

“For the tourism convention that’s coming in next month, they’ve got tours set up. They’ll be going through the park. They’ll be going through the Main Street taxing district. That’s going to help get people to see Vicksburg,” Harper said.

The Vicksburg Senior Center at South and Walnut Street also offers a full slate of events onsite, Harper said. Events are open to residents 50 and older.

“It offers a place for friends to reunite, and it offers a place to make new friends,” Harper said.