By — Adam Kemp Adam Kemp Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/in-oklahoma-these-small-towns-are-seeing-an-eclipse-boom Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter In Oklahoma, these small towns are seeing an eclipse boom Nation Mar 27, 2024 4:44 PM EDT Growing up in Valliant, Oklahoma, a town of fewer than 1,000 people, Mykal Jordan always thought she’d have to travel to see the wonders of the world. Turns out, the wonder — and people from across the world — are coming to her. “Never thought we’d be such a hot destination,” said Jordan, whose town will be covered in darkness in the upcoming total solar eclipse. “We thought we better give people a fun and friendly spot to experience it.” READ MORE: How to watch April’s total solar eclipse The eclipse will cut across North America on April 8. The path of totality, or the area where a full eclipse can be viewed, will stretch from Mexico’s Pacific coast through the southwest corner of Texas, Oklahoma and 13 other states, extending into Canada. As the moon’s shadow completely covers the sun, the sky will darken along this narrow track for up to four minutes and 28 seconds. Animation by Megan McGrew/PBS NewsHour Millions of people will flock to locations in the path to witness the celestial event in person. When the last solar eclipse occurred in 2017, it brought hundreds of millions of dollars in tourism revenue to states in its path. For people like Jordan in places like Valliant, she saw it as an opportunity to showcase the town she grew up in to people from across the United States. Jordan is opening her family’s ranch to these visitors. With more than 2,000 acres, typically reserved for cattle grazing, Fenley Farms will be converted into a temporary spot for campers, RVs and day parking for anyone wanting to experience the sun-blocked darkness. Two weeks ahead of Eclipse Day, about a quarter of the farm’s available spots have been reserved. Jordan said she and her family didn’t realize how much of a big deal the day was going to be. “We are having people come all the way from Massachusetts, Florida, Maryland, California and Utah,” she said. “It feels like we are no longer a secret. I think people are excited to visit a place they’ve never been.” Fenley Farms in Valliant, Oklahoma, will host visitors from across the United States on April 8 for the total solar eclipse. The farm will be in the path of totality. Photo courtesy of Mykal Jordan A 40-minute drive east from Valliant is Hochatown, Oklahoma, home to 240 people and only officially established as an incorporated municipality in 2022. But the area has long been populated by people looking to experience its natural beauty. Its proximity to some of the state’s most picturesque lakes, rivers and hiking trails make it a get-away spot for people from nearby metroplexes in Dallas, Fort Worth, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. On a busy holiday weekend, Hochatown Mayor Dian Jordan, who is the aunt of Fenley Farm’s Mykal Jordan, said more than 35,000 people will stay in the cabins and rental properties scattered through the area’s lush forests. For the eclipse, the tiny town could see as many as 100,000 visitors. As of right now, the mayor said about 95 percent of all the cabins in Hochatown have been rented. Candace Parson will be one of those visitors. She, her husband and their three children will drive more than 15 hours to Hochatown from Toledo, Ohio, to stay in a cabin and experience the eclipse. Parson wants to experience the eclipse in “a more natural setting” and thought the area might be less busy than places in Arkansas or Texas. She booked a rental for the extended weekend at $325 a night. “My kids are all super into space and NASA and they are just geeking out about seeing the eclipse,” she said. The town put together an emergency planning group more than a year ago to discuss how to handle so many travelers. As mayor, Dian Jordan said she’s been going business to business to discuss their game plans. Many of the local restaurants are asking their staff to stay overnight before the eclipse, she said, because they’re worried clogged roads will prevent employees from coming into work. Dian Jordan is also sharing tips for visitors coming into town, including reminders to fill up gas tanks and bring food and water, as well as additional ways to communicate beyond cell phones since the throngs of people — and the eclipse itself — could disrupt service. The mayor also wants to make sure people pack their patience. “You are going to be living on Hochatown-time,” she said. “Don’t expect anything to go very fast.” As prepared as Dian Jordan thinks her town is, the thought of more than doubling a normally packed weekend is a little harrowing. With upwards of 100,000 people, “that could get a little wild and crazy,” she said. The Oklahoma National Guard will deploy support personnel to Hochatown and other communities in McCurtain County to help with the expected influx of tourists. The county’s emergency management office said more than 100 Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers will also be on call. For the Choctaw Nation, the eclipse is rooted in a century-old tale. Watch the video in the player above. Video by Timothy McPhillips and Adam Kemp/PBS NewsHour Some Choctaw people thought solar eclipses were caused by a mischievous black squirrel attempting to devour the sun. According to one Trail of Tears survivor’s recounting, people would bang pots and pans, and fire guns into the sky to scare the creature away. The sun will grow dim over parts of the tribe’s reservation during the total eclipse. The Choctaw Cultural Center and the Wheelock Academy Historic Site, which both sit just outside the path of totality, are selling shirts and solar eclipse glasses to celebrate the day. They’ll also host activities for children and adults, including a retelling of the story of Fvni Lusa, the hungry squirrel. Choctaw Nation senior director Erica Kosemund said the influx of visitors to the area will be a boon to the nation’s economy as every casino and resort will host live entertainment and viewing parties, and offer giveaways and promotional packages. Kosemund said they are excited for so many new visitors to visit Choctaw country for the first time. “Across our reservation we have something for everyone,” she said. “We think the economic impact across the total path of totality is going to be great for this region as a whole.” Back in Hochatown, Dian Jordan plans to be on call most of the day in case any major emergencies need her attention. The mayor is happy celestial forces aligned to give people a chance to experience totality. “We couldn’t have made that even happen if we had millions of dollars,” she said. By — Adam Kemp Adam Kemp Adam Kemp is a Communities Correspondent for the PBS NewsHour based in Oklahoma.
Growing up in Valliant, Oklahoma, a town of fewer than 1,000 people, Mykal Jordan always thought she’d have to travel to see the wonders of the world. Turns out, the wonder — and people from across the world — are coming to her. “Never thought we’d be such a hot destination,” said Jordan, whose town will be covered in darkness in the upcoming total solar eclipse. “We thought we better give people a fun and friendly spot to experience it.” READ MORE: How to watch April’s total solar eclipse The eclipse will cut across North America on April 8. The path of totality, or the area where a full eclipse can be viewed, will stretch from Mexico’s Pacific coast through the southwest corner of Texas, Oklahoma and 13 other states, extending into Canada. As the moon’s shadow completely covers the sun, the sky will darken along this narrow track for up to four minutes and 28 seconds. Animation by Megan McGrew/PBS NewsHour Millions of people will flock to locations in the path to witness the celestial event in person. When the last solar eclipse occurred in 2017, it brought hundreds of millions of dollars in tourism revenue to states in its path. For people like Jordan in places like Valliant, she saw it as an opportunity to showcase the town she grew up in to people from across the United States. Jordan is opening her family’s ranch to these visitors. With more than 2,000 acres, typically reserved for cattle grazing, Fenley Farms will be converted into a temporary spot for campers, RVs and day parking for anyone wanting to experience the sun-blocked darkness. Two weeks ahead of Eclipse Day, about a quarter of the farm’s available spots have been reserved. Jordan said she and her family didn’t realize how much of a big deal the day was going to be. “We are having people come all the way from Massachusetts, Florida, Maryland, California and Utah,” she said. “It feels like we are no longer a secret. I think people are excited to visit a place they’ve never been.” Fenley Farms in Valliant, Oklahoma, will host visitors from across the United States on April 8 for the total solar eclipse. The farm will be in the path of totality. Photo courtesy of Mykal Jordan A 40-minute drive east from Valliant is Hochatown, Oklahoma, home to 240 people and only officially established as an incorporated municipality in 2022. But the area has long been populated by people looking to experience its natural beauty. Its proximity to some of the state’s most picturesque lakes, rivers and hiking trails make it a get-away spot for people from nearby metroplexes in Dallas, Fort Worth, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. On a busy holiday weekend, Hochatown Mayor Dian Jordan, who is the aunt of Fenley Farm’s Mykal Jordan, said more than 35,000 people will stay in the cabins and rental properties scattered through the area’s lush forests. For the eclipse, the tiny town could see as many as 100,000 visitors. As of right now, the mayor said about 95 percent of all the cabins in Hochatown have been rented. Candace Parson will be one of those visitors. She, her husband and their three children will drive more than 15 hours to Hochatown from Toledo, Ohio, to stay in a cabin and experience the eclipse. Parson wants to experience the eclipse in “a more natural setting” and thought the area might be less busy than places in Arkansas or Texas. She booked a rental for the extended weekend at $325 a night. “My kids are all super into space and NASA and they are just geeking out about seeing the eclipse,” she said. The town put together an emergency planning group more than a year ago to discuss how to handle so many travelers. As mayor, Dian Jordan said she’s been going business to business to discuss their game plans. Many of the local restaurants are asking their staff to stay overnight before the eclipse, she said, because they’re worried clogged roads will prevent employees from coming into work. Dian Jordan is also sharing tips for visitors coming into town, including reminders to fill up gas tanks and bring food and water, as well as additional ways to communicate beyond cell phones since the throngs of people — and the eclipse itself — could disrupt service. The mayor also wants to make sure people pack their patience. “You are going to be living on Hochatown-time,” she said. “Don’t expect anything to go very fast.” As prepared as Dian Jordan thinks her town is, the thought of more than doubling a normally packed weekend is a little harrowing. With upwards of 100,000 people, “that could get a little wild and crazy,” she said. The Oklahoma National Guard will deploy support personnel to Hochatown and other communities in McCurtain County to help with the expected influx of tourists. The county’s emergency management office said more than 100 Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers will also be on call. For the Choctaw Nation, the eclipse is rooted in a century-old tale. Watch the video in the player above. Video by Timothy McPhillips and Adam Kemp/PBS NewsHour Some Choctaw people thought solar eclipses were caused by a mischievous black squirrel attempting to devour the sun. According to one Trail of Tears survivor’s recounting, people would bang pots and pans, and fire guns into the sky to scare the creature away. The sun will grow dim over parts of the tribe’s reservation during the total eclipse. The Choctaw Cultural Center and the Wheelock Academy Historic Site, which both sit just outside the path of totality, are selling shirts and solar eclipse glasses to celebrate the day. They’ll also host activities for children and adults, including a retelling of the story of Fvni Lusa, the hungry squirrel. Choctaw Nation senior director Erica Kosemund said the influx of visitors to the area will be a boon to the nation’s economy as every casino and resort will host live entertainment and viewing parties, and offer giveaways and promotional packages. Kosemund said they are excited for so many new visitors to visit Choctaw country for the first time. “Across our reservation we have something for everyone,” she said. “We think the economic impact across the total path of totality is going to be great for this region as a whole.” Back in Hochatown, Dian Jordan plans to be on call most of the day in case any major emergencies need her attention. The mayor is happy celestial forces aligned to give people a chance to experience totality. “We couldn’t have made that even happen if we had millions of dollars,” she said.