The Solar Eclipse Phenomenon and Its Impact on Wayne County Tourism with Mary Walker

Embark on a journey with Alfredo Diamond and the dynamic Mary Walker, the visionary at the helm of Wayne County Tourism, as we explore the vibrant transformation of our local tourist scene. From Mary's evolution from bank teller to tourism trailblazer, to the savvy utilization of the innkeeper's tax that funds development without dipping into residents' pockets, we're mapping out the county's ascent to a haven for history buffs, nature lovers, and adventure seekers. Discover the allure of attractions like the historic Levi Coffin House and the breathtaking Whitewater Gorge, and learn about the strategic trails network that's drawing outdoor enthusiasts from far and wide.

As Mary takes us deeper into Wayne County's tourism tapestry, we spotlight the thrilling White Water Gorge activation plan that's setting the stage for kayaking, canoeing, and ziplining across our stunning landscapes. Denise Retz's astute use of grants is fueling these developments, with an eye on making Wayne County not only a leisure destination but also a hotbed for talent retention and attraction. We share the vision behind the downtown revitalization projects promising to infuse the heart of Richmond with new energy, from chic market rate apartments to buzzing boutiques and eateries. Plus, we dissect the art of niche marketing, revealing how unique draws like Indiana's Antique Alley can carve a distinct place for Wayne County in the crowded tourism marketplace.

As we look to the skies, the upcoming total solar eclipse positions our community at the epicenter of an economic boon, set to draw unprecedented crowds to witness this rare celestial phenomenon. With a deep dive into how this event could temporarily swell Richmond's population and create a surge of visitor spending, we offer insights into preparations for the eclipse, from traffic management to community hospitality. This episode is not just about the thrill of the moment but the lasting legacy such events can carve for Wayne County, and a rallying cry for local engagement to seize the extraordinary opportunities they present. Join us as we celebrate the symbiosis of community endeavor and tourism's transformative potential.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:04

Welcome back to another episode of Our Community. This one's going to be fun. Settle in for a ride be a special treat. You can kind of see what we're going to be talking about today and we'll dive into that in just a little bit. I'm your host, alfredo Diamond, local realtor, entrepreneur, investor, wayne County, indiana. I'm here with a very special guest. We've been talking about this for a while. Welcome, mary Walker, executive Director, wayne County Tourism, mary welcome.

Speaker 2: 0:32

Thank you so much, al, it's great to be here.

Speaker 1: 0:34

Thank you. Thank you, I got to take those things off. We'll dive into that.

Speaker 2: 0:39

Feel a little bit like a Stevie Wonder on that one. Yeah, I can't see anything in those, but that's how you know they're good, hey, they work.

Speaker 1: 0:47

That's right. I'll tell you that Test dig and serve. They work. Mary, thank you for being here. Sure, we've been talking about this for a while. It's a pleasure to have you. Let's jump right into it.

Speaker 2: 1:09

Share with us your journey of becoming the executive executive director of Wayne County Tourism and what inspired you to pursue this career path. Sure Well, I'm a native of Richmond, wayne County, so I was born and raised here and I actually worked as a teller, and then I worked at the Chamber of Commerce, and from the chamber is where the Tourism Bureau came out, was born.

Speaker 2: 1:22

And it was born through legislation. So they had a tourism council, went through the House and Senate got an innkeeper's tax passed, which is what funds us. And the innkeeper's tax immediately when you hear the word tax it's automatically a negative connotation. In this case, it's the visitors who pay that tax, so the locals don't pay it at all. Yet it does an amazing amount of good for our communities within Wayne County. And so from that I had a choice to stay with the chamber, or I was at that time 26. And it was like someone said to me he says well, what do you got Cause I had no idea what tourism is. So what have you got to lose? I said, well, you know really nothing. So I hopped on and I've been with the Bureau ever since our inception. I started when I was seven, because I've been with it since 1981. Wow, I know. Wow, it's almost like the eclipse, wow.

Speaker 1: 2:14

Your enthusiasm and motivations. Even meetings with you, it's just like you're so passionate about our community and it transcends throughout your communication, so I think you're definitely the right person to have in that role representing our city Well, thank you, and you know people say, well, how can you be in a position that long?

Speaker 2: 2:30

And it's like well, we're always doing new things and so it's not the same old, same old. The old adage of this is the way we've always done it, yuck. So we're always changing things, and that's what keeps me excited and all of the projects that are occurring in Wayne County. I tend to get involved in those, because what so goes the county, the community, so goes tourism, and vice versa. So it's important that we're at the table as well.

Speaker 1: 2:55

Awesome I am. So you brought some things with you. What are some unique attractions you think about that person that may be relocating to our area, our community right? What are some unique attractions or experiences in Wayne County that you think visitors should not miss?

Speaker 2: 3:10

Sure, so when we look at marketing and especially visitors and my philosophy from a visitation standpoint is you never know where your next piece of business is going to come from. So anyone who comes here, whether it's through tourism or family and friends, you never know if they have a corporation or something that they're looking for, a location. So when we look at those things, we look at what we consider the national hooks, because we have to hook them, the visitors, and then once they get here, oh my gosh, we have all these great things. So national hooks, and even international, would be things like the Levi Coffin House and Interpretive Center. Levi and Catherine Coffin, known as the conductors of the Underground Railroad. Just the US State's post office just did a stamp now of the Black Heritage and Catherine Coffin is one of the stamps nationally Very cool, Just unveiled yesterday.

Speaker 2: 4:09

And things like the Star Jeanette, the amazing history of the Jeanette family and Star Piano. And I mean we had entities back in the twenties like Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll, Morton, Bix, Beiderbecke, Gene Autry. They recorded anything, I mean even sound effects for motion pictures, and it's an amazing history because again, these people came here to record. You look at the gorge, there's lots of activity and enthusiasm that's going to be coming for the Whitewater Gorge Activation Project. But just looking at the gorge itself, it's 20 million years old. It's the only place one of two places in the US where you can actually hunt for fossils on the surface because of the shale that was created. That's where the Jeanette Recording Studio once stood and the Star Piano Company. It's also where Cardinal Greenway comes through, so you have over 250,000 bike enthusiasts that are using Cardinal Greenway. That runs from for our listeners, from Marion to Muncie to Richmond. I didn't know it went to.

Speaker 1: 5:23

Marion, yes, I knew it went to Muncie. Yes, yes, it starts here. Goes to Muncie.

Speaker 2: 5:26

It's Indiana's longest trail, so it's 62 miles.

Speaker 1: 5:29

Okay.

Speaker 2: 5:30

And now we've added, because of the connector, where the Veterans Park is at one point. That's where the Cardinal Greenway ended and then the Whitewater Gorge Trail picked up because there was a hill. So you had to find a way to connect the two and that's been done, and so now it extended it now even three and a half miles, and I think our part, richmond's, is really the prettiest part of the whole trail. But we're the beginning and or the end, and they have over 250,000 that bike, that and that now goes right through the gorge, have over 250,000 that bike, that and that now goes right through the gorge, which, when you look at all of these things that are together, they really converge and so it's exciting. I mean, there's so many. We have such rich history that we take for granted I'm also a part of.

Speaker 2: 6:20

Now, reed Center used to be Reed Memorial Presbyterian Church. Not many people know that, daniel Reed, when he built that church back in 1904, it was finished in 1906, he spared no expense that man. He was one of the wealthiest persons in the nation due to the trust that he created. He was known as the tin plate king and he hung out with all those like JP Morgan and and, uh, you know, so he. He got Lewis comfort Tiffany and his studios in New York to do all of those windows. So all the windows on the first floor, um, are all Tiffany windows. Even in the the upstairs bathroom is a Tiffany window. Wow, I didn't know that. And everything in the building itself was designed by Lewis Comfort Tiffany. So the woodwork, the wall coverings, the mosaic, all of that was designed. It wasn't built, but it was designed. It's a treasure that we drive past every day and we have so many of those here.

Speaker 1: 7:24

You know, I do these tours for IU East Shout out, iu East. I do these tours for incoming candidates for positions, things like that, and I've got a gift tour of the city. I wish I could just take you along with me, okay, and we would elevate those tours.

Speaker 2: 7:39

We'll sell them on staying here. Yeah, there we go. Hey, you can count on me, I'm serious.

Speaker 1: 7:43

Got you Love it. I want to back up a second Something I'm interested in. So you said something a moment ago about the Gores or the White White Grant or something like that. Can you share some information about that? Yeah?

Speaker 2: 7:52

So right now this in my lifetime and those of your listeners this is really the time that there has been a lot of money that is available One-time dollars through HELP, which is Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program through Earlham, and the Lilly $25 million grant through, and now we have Lilly Gift 8 that's going to be happening. We've also got the Ready Project 1 and Ready Project 2. So there's this influx of dollars, potential dollars and real dollars that allow us to now do things With the HELP program. The county had to apply for that. We were one of nine communities slash counties that were awarded the HELP grant. We were one of nine communities slash counties that were awarded the HELP grant and what that enabled us to do?

Speaker 2: 8:42

It gave the county a million dollars to be used for what's called a CDBG, which is a Community Development Block Grant, cv. So it's specific to coronavirus, but it could be used in a variety of ways, but it still had to be applied for. So there's communities that are applying for that and have gotten it. So that's an extra million dollars. And then every community during the coronavirus received ARPA funds, which is American Rescue Plan funds, and every community, even one as small as Economy Indiana, received some funding. It was all to their population based on, and so you look at Wayne County they received $12.78 million, the city $7.5 million, and then every small community. So what the HELP program did is, in order for communities to participate, they had to set aside 30% of their ARPA funds to put together a strategic investment plan.

Speaker 2: 9:43

And so all of that's been done and that's where communities banded together and we looked at what kinds of things will make a lasting impact. So, instead of just willy-nillying the dollars, how do we really focus and make that impactful long-term? So with that, those communities who participated had the opportunity to then potentially get county some of the county ARPA monies and so with that, a slew of things and we can come back and even having Jeff Plaster on the.

Speaker 1: 10:16

he's kind of the kingpin yeah.

Speaker 2: 10:18

He's the kingpin of the help program Um, but there's so many things. One of those, though, in particular, is the White Water Gorge and Denise Retz. I love Denise, she's awesome. Um, she had, and, and her group has put together a White Water Gorge activation plan. I mean, the gorge has been here for 20 million years. We've really not done all the cool things like kayaking, canoeing, zip lining.

Speaker 2: 10:44

Yeah, baby, yes, and so with all of this convergence of these dollars we're now able to, because these projects are kind of synergistic and all working together. So through HELP, through the Lilly Earlham Grant, there will be Phase 1. They had already started Phase 1, but now it will be Phase 2, phase 3. And so, essentially, looking at kayaking and canoe, launch points where dam has already been taken out to help the water flow, and then ziplining, these are things I want people to know.

Speaker 1: 11:20

I know I'm so excited.

Speaker 2: 11:20

It's excited and we talk about attraction and retention of talent. Yeah, Because you know, are you a native.

Speaker 1: 11:27

I've been here my entire life.

Speaker 2: 11:28

Okay, me too, and when I in the seventies I was young, but I remember we were 50,000 people. We're now 36. So we have to do everything that we can in which to grow that population and retain our talent and attract new talent, Because our citizens aren't going to like what's going to happen as we keep decreasing in population.

Speaker 1: 11:54

It's a loaded question for you, but what do you think we should do?

Speaker 2: 11:57

Well, I think we're doing it.

Speaker 2: 11:58

I mean, I think the EDC is doing Valerie and her team is doing an amazing job. Years ago it used to be focused on jobs. Now the paradigm has changed and jobs can people don't have to follow the job. Now we're trying to follow the person who needs the work, who can work remotely, and so I think the EDC and the chamber they're doing an incredible job about creating the tools, the amenities that people will want to live here and work here, and so I think it's a long-term thing. But I think we're really by looking at the gorge, by doing downtown revitalization that's another huge project that's in Earlham and also HELP, and not just for Richmond, but in the HELP grant the board, they are also looking at those communities who participated in HELP, so Cambridge and others.

Speaker 2: 12:58

And so it's all of these things kind of rolled into one that, as we do these things, it's like cool.

Speaker 1: 13:06

Yeah, you mentioned the Lilly Grant funds, so can you share with me about that, like, have we already received them? How much did we get? I mean, are those funds already allocated to other programs or when will they be? Do you have the information?

Speaker 2: 13:20

Dakota Collins will be the person that you really want to get on to one of your podcasts.

Speaker 2: 13:25

Because he's again like Jeff in Help, he's the guru in Earl and Lily, but being involved in that in some aspect they had to. With regards to Lily, they had to focus on an area, and so the area they focused on is the Richmond. They call it the revitalization of Richmond plan and it will. It kind of again synergistically works with the help. So we're we're leveraging all of those dollars to do more things and we're not duplicating, we're adding to, and so that could be upper story housing, that could be removal of blight, that could be the Whitewater Gorge activation. A component of that could be finding well, not could be.

Speaker 2: 14:05

It is finding creating a bus line from Earlham to the downtown, creating things that the students and faculty would want to do downtown and entertainment opportunities. You know, when we look at the downtown we are so blessed that we have the infrastructure that we have, we have the beautiful buildings. I mean, you know entities would kill and if you look at Easton and all of that, they're trying to replicate those downtowns. We have the real things, and so these are dollars that will be injected into this area that I think will be transformational when you couple that with the Elder Behrman's Project, which is the 150 market rate apartments. My philosophy is and I think this will be true is you get people living here, and that will be the catalyst to also bring boutiques, restaurants, entertainment etc. And so people say, well, why don't we have that now? Well, we don't have that catalyst. We do now somewhat have people living here, but not to that extent, and so I think that will be the catalyst to really people will be amazed what will happen in just a few short years.

Speaker 1: 15:24

In your view, what's the biggest challenge facing the tourism sector today and how is Wayne County addressing it?

Speaker 2: 15:30

Well, the challenge has always been competition. So when we're competing for the tourism dollar, we're competing with 50 states and cities within those states. And so what sets us apart from our competition so that we draw them here and we get their money? So that goes back again to niche marketing. We create things, we package things together to make it easy for visitors. So instead of having to find all the antique shops we coined the phrase 20 years ago and it's still really indicative of and strong in our tourism industry it's Indiana's famous antique alley. It's so simple, but we have a lot of antiques here. Let's package those, let's let people know that, hey, this is a core here, and so we call it hub and spoking. They start in Richmond, they go all the way to Knightstown. It's not in Wayne County, but you know, their visitor really could care less where Wayne County ends and Henry County begins, and so let's make it impactful.

Speaker 2: 16:29

Yeah let's make it impactful. We have another trail too that goes up to Portland, indiana, to Greenville and then back. So it's called hub and spoken. Well, people hub out or spoke out and then keep Richmond and Wayne County as a hub. We have just as girls we have a mural store. We have over 85 murals through the help program we are now. You had heard yesterday at the board of advisors meeting that we're going to be embarking on a Wayne County murals trail. We'll have 10 more new murals, so we'll have almost 100 murals throughout Wayne County.

Speaker 2: 17:01

I mean, that's a beautiful thing. It creates pride, beautification, it helps those who live in that neighborhood have that pride and pick up and the trash, the litter. It's amazing what it can do. But that's what we do. Is we really package? So to give you an idea of the impact, we do regularly an economic impact. We co-op with the state of Indiana, the Indiana Destination Development Corporation, and we do what's called a Wayne County Economic Impact Report, and so we've been doing this since 2012. To give you an idea, in 2012 was the first year that we were able to participate. It was $84.6 million in Wayne County to Wayne County through visitation. A visitor in these reports are defined as 50 miles out, so it discounts all the local anyone local 50 miles out. So $84.6 million in 2012. We just received our 2022, 160 million.

Speaker 2: 18:02

So tourism is alive and well here in Wayne County. We just don't always see it, because when we had the Model T Centennial, we knew they were here because they were in Model Ts. When we have Autumn Oaks, which is the coon hunters, which is an amazing group, there are 32 states and Canada, over 6,000 people that come. You see them because they've got the dog crates in the back. But all of those people spend money. And what we don't realize is population of 36,000, if we were out in the middle of nowhere, if we didn't have I-70, we didn't have US 40, and we didn't have tourism coming in, we wouldn't have all of these amenities, right? Because these amenities aren't supported just locally by the 36,000 people. Great spot. And so people have to remember that, because of where we're located and all these wonderful amenities that we have help us keep those amenities that we visit every day and every night.

Speaker 1: 18:56

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 18:58

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 18:58

Mary.

Speaker 2: 19:00

Blowing your mind.

Speaker 1: 19:01

Huh, yeah, yeah man, we're going to have you on here once a month. We've got a whole segment. Mary Walker segment.

Speaker 2: 19:07

It's a Mary. Now show, we're all married. Really, it's all a Mary, hey, hey, hey, there you go.

Speaker 1: 19:11

Walking with Walker. Hey, oh my.

Speaker 2: 19:15

God Love it.

Speaker 1: 19:17

Sorry, you're a native like me, so what's a typical weekend like for you when you're not working? Any favorite local spots you enjoy visiting.

Speaker 2: 19:27

Well, you know, I'm sure you're much like this, al. I work so much, you know my job doesn't end at 5, nor does yours, and so I'm always. I work a lot. So I might remote in, but we attend a lot of meetings. So when you have meetings you don't necessarily get to work on, work, work, so the work, work is there. So typically I do a lot of work, but things that I enjoy and I'm getting anxious for it, is things like gardening. You know that, that mental place where you can go in, put your headphones on and just veg. I love that. So my flowers are coming up, my weeds are too.

Speaker 2: 20:06

So, I'm even looking forward to weeding. It's just that mental thing to get away and get all that stuff out and get refreshed.

Speaker 1: 20:16

Yeah, there's lots of things, though, so we've got an exciting day, april 8th.

Speaker 2: 20:21

Yes.

Speaker 1: 20:21

We've got some exciting topic to talk about. We've probably seen this. You know the ads and shirts and glasses everywhere, thanks to you and your staff. So Wayne County is gearing up for the solar eclipse on April 8th. Can you tell us about any special events or activities planned for this occasion?

Speaker 2: 20:38

Sure. So a year ago we created a website called. We have two URLs. We have richmondsolareclipsecom and waynecountysolareclipsecom. They all go to the same website, but we wanted to do that because this is a Wayne County thing. The four minutes will actually be in western Wayne County, in Downton Township, and that's going to be the longest duration, which is the longest duration anywhere.

Speaker 2: 21:06

And then, um, as it comes back to Richmond, it Richmond is three minutes and 48 seconds, so we're only 12 seconds less less, but it's really important was important for us to be able to have everyone feel a part of this. And so, you know, it's kind of the old basketball mentality when you say, and you know, you just have Jeff Huffhine on representing Western Wayne County as well, and people in Western Wayne doesn't want to use Richmond. So we created the URL to do both and it all goes the same place. But there's over 50 events. What I would encourage our listeners to do is to go to one or the other richmondsolareclipsecom or waynecountysolareclipsecom and look at all the events, look at viewing sites, look at pop-up campgrounds. It's really the official Eclipse website for Wayne County and I would just encourage all of our listeners to make sure, prior to the 8th, go and support these communities, these events.

Speaker 2: 22:09

They've worked really, really hard to put these things together for not just locals but for visitors. But I really would encourage that. This is truly and I know it sounds cliche a once-in-a-lifetime event. I mean, when we talk about the eclipse, the last one Wayne County had was 1,200 years ago. The next one we'll have in Wayne County, like it is today in our own backyard, 1,000 years. So, hey, none of us will be here.

Speaker 1: 22:37

I heard did I hear this right? We're expecting a projected now we got a population of about 36,000 people here. Correct, and just in Richmond? Yep, but I heard that there's 150,000 people projected to be. Is that throughout the county or just in Richmond?

Speaker 2: 22:51

So you know it's all speculative because there's so many variables. Weather is one. So depending on if we're clear, we'll get more people, if we're not so clear they may go to other sites. But Wes Tobin with IU East, he is the professor of astronomy and physics and we've been working with him over a year. He has said that and he's been to many, many Eclipse. He said it is not unusual for Richmond, just taking Richmond itself, to double or triple their population. So if you look at that, that's 50,000 to 100,000 people, and that's not just Richmond. I mean again, for those Eclipse chasers that are truly the fanatics, they're going to want to be in Western Wayne because that's the longest duration. People like us hey, we're good to be in our backyards. And so we have a local awareness campaign that has just kicked off this week, working with the radio stations, wctv and the newspapers to make sure our community and our citizens throughout Wayne County one take in the events, one understand eye safety.

Speaker 2: 24:02

Really important to wear these glasses if you're watching and looking up at the eclipse. I thought a year and a half ago that, gee, I only had to wear the glasses in that four minutes of totality. Nope, it's the opposite. It starts at 142. That's when you, if you're looking up, that's when you put the glasses on. The only time you don't have to wear them is the four minutes of totality. Then, when the moon starts to move and you see Bailey's beads, put the glasses back on.

Speaker 1: 24:32

Oh, so you don't have to wear them at the total eclipse At the four minutes only.

Speaker 2: 24:37

That's crazy. Yes, before and after. You absolutely do, and it's important that people realize that because the eyes have no pain receptors and so they can look up and say, oh, I'm not being hurt. And then 12, 24, 48 hours later they've got damage and it's sometimes irreparable.

Speaker 1: 24:54

So when we're looking up, it's total blackout. Will we still be able to see a little bit outline of the sun? Okay, yes, okay yeah, it'll be.

Speaker 2: 25:03

I've never been through it, but what I, what wes have said, and what others have said, is that, uh, it'll get dark yeah it will um the birds and the animals different. Yes, because they think it's nighttime. It'll get cooler. It'll just be really an incredible event that we are blessed to have in our own backyard, and so we're encouraging people. Make plans, prepare ahead. If you plan to go to a friend's house to watch it on Monday, april 8th, go early, but be prepared to stay late.

Speaker 2: 25:34

Go early but, be prepared to stay late, because if we do get those influx of visitors, which I think on Monday, april 8th specifically, we are, because Wes was saying that he expects Indiana and Texas to probably be the two most traveled two states and that's predominantly because of the transportation modes that we have. We have US 40, i-70, 38, 27, 35. I mean, think about all the things that come into wayne county and so it's, it's a logical place that we could get in it. You know a lot of people congregating and and people will just pull off. So you know it's not. They may go to a viewing site, they may not, because it's going to be everywhere.

Speaker 2: 26:14

Yeah, yeah and so we ask our our to prepare. Get your groceries early, ahead of time, your prescriptions, get cash, fill up your car. If you don't have to be out on April 8th, have a barbecue, enjoy it in your backyard. If you're going to friends, get there early, stay late. But again, the safety glasses.

Speaker 2: 26:34

And then the other thing from a Hoosier hospitality is be patient if you're out that day, you know, don't do any road rage, okay, let's just keep it cool, keep it calm. If people look like they need help, help them, because they're not from here.

Speaker 1: 26:49

So and then that goes a sec. You know, be patient, that's going to be a busy day for the local for local business owners. I've talked to several local business, especially downtown, and just just you know, I know they've been preparing for this for a long time, a while now, and just some of these places are short-staffed. The owners are going to be in there working extra hours. Just be patient. Be patient with the staff and be nice.

Speaker 2: 27:12

We're putting on a show class for our city with all these visitors coming in, absolutely because again you're right, because again it goes back to you never know who these people are and what they represent. That's right and what they could do for our community if they. Valerie gives. She gave an example of Dot Foods. They were looking at multiple sites before they landed here and they one of the owners stopped at a gas station and they were just so friendly that that helped make their decision. So we just never know.

Speaker 1: 27:45

Will there be any like from a logistics standpoint? Will there be any like streets blocked off that you're aware of, or places you might want to avoid?

Speaker 2: 27:52

Well, there's not going to be any streets blocked off because that would you know that wouldn't be good with 50,000 to 100,000 people. But I will say, all of the emergency management team Wayne County Emergency Management Team and all of the first responders throughout Wayne County have been meeting monthly and they just had a meeting yesterday again which we've attended and it's fascinating what they have to think about that. I had no idea. Communications If there are large congregations of people, our cell phones may not work as well.

Speaker 1: 28:26

I mean be prepared you know, this isn't a normal event.

Speaker 2: 28:30

Yes, well, everyone's using it. So you know how do they communicate. The state has already said there are 62 counties within Indiana that are going to experience some form of the totality, and so out of 92. So that's a lot. The state has already told everyone we're going to be thin, so you know they're going to have people positioned in certain places, but rely on all of us to let them know if there's accidents or concerns or something. But yeah, just be patient, that's the key.

Speaker 1: 29:01

How are you personally preparing for the total eclipse?

Speaker 2: 29:05

Well, I'll probably be at the office, you know, because we want to be open if visitors have any last minute questions. So really, just kind of seeing how it all unfolds. We are what I consider the official eclipseclipse headquarters. So if people want souvenirs, if they want glasses, that they want those kinds of things, come out now and get them. Our quantities are depleting and make sure you have your glasses at the very least. But no, I plan to go outside and I plan to enjoy it, just like anyone else. Something else someone might want to think about if they are traveling in different areas, I've heard parking lots are great. Well, they are, unless they have cell lights. So when it gets dark, what happens? Street lights come on, parking lights come on.

Speaker 2: 29:56

So, you don't think about those things, things, but you want to be in an area where you don't have that obstruction, um, so you can really experience it that's true in total no pun intended, that's a great point.

Speaker 1: 30:07

Yeah, that's a great point uh, so you know listen last. So just from economic standpoint, what? What are we projected to generate revenue bringing into our community?

Speaker 2: 30:19

Well, so everything that we've been doing for the last year has been using Hopkinsville, kentucky, as an example.

Speaker 1: 30:28

Okay.

Speaker 2: 30:30

It's a perfect example. The only difference is when that occurred in 2017, they were the only Kentucky city. In 2017, it was only two minutes, ours is four, so double, and they were a population are a population of 31,000 people. They had 116,000 people come to Hopkinsville, kentucky. So that's what we're using as examples. Because we are a longer totality, we are more easily accessible.

Speaker 1: 31:03

And I mean even Indianapolis. We make up more than that, yes, A lot more than that.

Speaker 2: 31:05

Well, and even Indianapolis, I mean they're saying 250,000 to 300,000 people. Bloomington is saying, because they've got four minutes there, they're saying 150,000 to maybe 300,000 people. So I'm trying to be conservative and say, hey, let's do anywhere from 25 to 100,000. But even 25,000 people, you know is huge so yeah, blows the mind.

Speaker 1: 31:31

Wow, well, you heard it. So Total Eclipse April 8th. Mary Walker, executive Director, wayne County Tourism, it's been a pleasure having you here. Thank you, I'm so glad we got this together and look forward to having you back on the show? I'd love it. Thank you, mary. Okay, appreciate you.