People are traveling from all over the country to come to Southern Illinois to view the total solar eclipse.
JACKSON COUNTY, Ill. (WSIL)--- People are traveling from all over the country to come to Southern Illinois to view the total solar eclipse.
Local hotels and campsites are preparing for a busy weekend when many visitors arrive.
Like many hotels in the area, it did not take long for the Giant City State Park Lodge & Restaurant to book to capacity.聽Lodge Manager Mikey Kelley says they are still taking reservations for their restaurant.聽
鈥淓very year we start December 1st of the next calendar year, and they were gone in 40 minutes,鈥� Kelley said.
For many, a once-in-a-lifetime solar event had people calling to book a cabin.
鈥淭he eclipse will bring in a lot of probably new individuals to the area, especially those young families, hopefully, they will see it as an opportunity to come back down,鈥� Kelley said.
The Lodge has been a part of Mikey Kelley's family for three generations, and he says events like this are special.
鈥淥h it's very neat to be a part of it, and will definitely try not to take it for granted, and it just so happens that x marks the spot, and that spot is Makanda, Illinois out of everywhere in the world,鈥� Kelley said.
Up the road from the state park the Indian Creek Eclipse Campsite is still accepting some reservations. The campsite鈥檚 operator James Smith says they are finishing up last-minute details before their first camper arrives.
鈥淚 expect like last time they are calling up to the day of the event trying to hurry up and find somewhere to go,鈥� James Smith said.
Smith says the campground is only open for the Eclipse.
鈥淭he last time we did it was in 2017. It was probably one of the more memorable experiences I had in my life as far as being a part of something,鈥� Smith said.
Smith recalls having people from all over the country come to his site.
Abdul Rahman Abulkhair will be vending food at the campsite.
鈥淛ust to be here to help them out. If they want something to drink, or eat, They don't have to leave the campground cause it's going to be fun around here,鈥� Abulkhair said.
Like many people, Abulkhair says it will be his kids' first time seeing the eclipse.
鈥淚'm excited to see the expressions on their faces and how happy they'll be. They've been talking about it for the whole month,鈥� Abulkhair said.
聽Excitement will probably be seen on kids' faces all over southern Illinois.
