Dubois County prepping for total solar eclipse

Jasper – Dubois County is preparing to take advantage of the slim line of complete darkness the total solar eclipse will bring on April 8, 2024.

The county lies within the estimated 115-mile-wide path of the total eclipse as it crosses the United States diagonally from Mexico to Canada. This is a very rare occurrence, according to Visit Dubois County Executive Director Whitney Lubbers.

“Although a partial eclipse happens somewhere every 18 months approximately, it is estimated that a total solar eclipse recurs at any given place only once every 360 to 410 years,” Lubbers said. “So, this is it for our lifetime.”

With Dubois County’s interstate accessibility, open green spaces, warm hospitality and great amenities, local officials are expecting to attract a crowd to the area for the experience.

Though the county isn’t expected to have nearly the influx of visitors that Hopkinsville, Kentucky did during the 2017 total solar eclipse they experienced — 116,000 people came into the rural Kentucky county of about 30,000 residents for the event, they do plan to be ready to handle the thousands that could make Dubois County their place to take in the eclipse.

As such, Visit Dubois County has hired Sara Schroeder as the Dubois County Eclipse Project Director to help facilitate a great experience for visitors to the area. Her role and that of tourism is to provide the overall coordination and organization of county events, promotion and resources by working closely with individual and organizational stakeholders. Four district committees based on the four county school districts are working to organize additional events and activities around the total solar eclipse set to take place around 3 p.m. on April 8. These events and activities will accent tourism, arts and culture and education.

Currently, Ferdinand is coordinating an event in 18th Street Park, and the Sisters of St. Benedict have plans in the works as well. Other areas of the county are planning on taking advantage of their unique attributes for events they are planning, but those plans are in early development at this point.

In addition to working with the four district committees, a county committee has been formed to work with countywide offices to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents and visitors throughout the duration of the event. They will be working with the health department, law enforcement and the highway departments as well as the cities and towns to create the best experience possible for everyone.

“On April 8 and leading up to that date, Dubois County will be ready to welcome visitors from all over to experience the 2024 eclipse,” Schroeder said. “We will have over three minutes of totality in our county — three minutes of darkness.”

To unify the efforts of all the communities and groups, Visit Dubois County has created a branding initiative that includes a unique logo and a new website, DuboisCountyEclipse.com, which currently has a countdown to the event. You can also follow along on a social media at this Facebook Page.

This brand initiative allows for a common presence for all four districts as well as allows the flexibility of each district to differentiate its own unique brand experience. The website is in the final creation stages to be a guide for complete darkness for both locals and visitors.

“One of our objectives, in addition to planning these great events in the county, is to identify viewing locations,” Schroeder said. “We’ll work with local communities to identify the best viewing locations throughout the county.”

Along with the solar eclipse, the county is attempting to plan events that will extend visitors’ stays. According to Lubbers, two motorcoach tours have already booked trips to the county for the weekend of the total solar eclipse.

“I think there is going to be a lot of excitement,” Lubbers said.

Work will continue with plans for upcoming campaigns to attract visitors to the county to take full advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“We are excited to be able to put Dubois County on display and spotlight all the great things we have,” Schroeder said.

Cover photo by Bryan Goff on Unsplash.