With less than two months before Maine’s first total solar eclipse since 1963, rural communities slated to be prime locations to view the natural phenomenon are preparing for an influx of visitors and are looking to nearby cities for support.
A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the earth and sun, casting a shadow over Earth. The upcoming eclipse will leave a 155-mile-wide “path of totality” — a shadow from Texas to Maine in which the moon will completely obscure the sun for two to four minutes in places across Maine.
All of Maine will witness some degree of the eclipse on Monday, April 8, but rural communities in central and northern Maine with little dining and lodging infrastructure, such as Houlton and Millinocket, will be in the path of totality and are bracing for an influx of visitors.
While Bangor isn’t in the path of totality, it’s the closest major Maine city to the line and is one of the only nearby places with the resources to serve the tens of thousands of visitors the region could see in April — a typically slow time of the year for tourism here.
“Bangor is on the periphery of this, so we’re not concerned about an overwhelming influx of visitors,” Deb Neuman, president and CEO of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, said. “For us, this is more of an opportunity to take advantage of visitors who are coming through or staying in Bangor to see the eclipse. It’s something to celebrate.”
Exactly how many visitors rural Maine communities will see, however, remains hazy, according to Hannah Collins, Maine Office of Tourism deputy director. The Great American Eclipse estimates between 5,000 to 20,000 will travel to Maine to see the total eclipse, adding to the roughly 99,000 Mainers living in the state’s path of totality.
More rural areas may also lean on Bangor to help provide everything from portable toilets to food trucks to serve the many “star parks” established to give people a safe place to view the eclipse.
To capitalize on the event, Johanna Johnston, executive director of the Southern Aroostook Development Corporation, suggested Bangor hotels offer a special eclipse package that includes transportation to a star park, which would also mitigate traffic in the region.
“What we’re hearing is that hotels in the path of totality are already booked, so we expect an overflow of people looking for a place to stay in the Bangor region,” Neuman said. “We anticipate that as we get closer to the, we’re going to see rooms in Bangor fill up.”
Bangor-area restaurants could also offer a special eclipse-themed menu during the days around the event, Neuman said.
The Maine Office of Tourism predicts most travelers will drive from other parts of the state and country rather than arrive by plane, opening up more potential for people to stop in other locations on their way to their eclipse-viewing destination.
The tourism office is also creating a campaign to encourage visitors to extend their stay to explore the region in the days leading up to and following the eclipse on April 8.
“There’s an opportunity for Bangor businesses to promote the eclipse and promote Bangor as a place to stay, enjoy,” Neuman said.
Being good hosts can also benefit regions later, Collins said, as the Maine Office of Tourism has found 91 percent of first-time visitors say they will return and 97 percent will recommend the state to a friend.
“That’s the best kind of advertising we can get because it’s free but high-impact,” Collins said.
