NORTH HERO, Vt. (WCAX) – North Hero in the Champlain Islands will be in total darkness on April 8 for over three and a half minutes seconds, one of the longest paths of totality in the state for the upcoming solar eclipse.
It’s all happening right in Martha Soule-Holden’s backyard on April 8.
“It’s super exciting. I just can’t wait till it happens. It’s going to be incredible,” said Soule-Holden, who along with her husband, are preparing to host family and friends for the celestial phenomenon. “We’ll certainly have a luncheon and champagne and just happy to have people around to share it with.”
The Champlain Islands see over 20,000 tourists during a typical summer. April’s solar spectacle could eclipse that. “We’re expecting to exceed that this year, just in a 24 or 48-hour period,” said Grand Isle County Sheriff Ray Allen.
Local lodgings are bursting at the seams. Apple Island Resort in South Hero got a special permit to open weeks early for visitors viewing RV-style, and there are only a few spots still up for grabs. They’ll also host local students on their lawn.
North Hero House booked up last summer. General manager Desiree Maltais says they’ve been fielding eclipse-related calls since 2018. “There are specific people who have been calling, you know, every month or three months saying I’m waiting for this moment. It’s kind of wild. It’s kind of crazy that it’s going right here, this tiny island,” she said.
There’s no shortage of viewing spots. Alburgh is gearing up for a three-day Totality Festival with live music and a parade. Nearby Camp Hochelaga is hosting a gathering with local musicians and vendors. And Grand Isle and Knight Point State Parks are offering their shores for a lakeside look.
Sheriff Allen expects visitors will travel by land and water, congesting Route 2 from Rouses Point to the Sand Bar, and catching the ferry from New York. “Our goal is to keep the main roads open and asking the residents as much as you can, stay home during this period,” he said. Allen is working with the state police, Fish and Wildlife, and Emergency Management to plan in case of weather-related accidents. He encourages people to stay off the lake and park their cars in designated areas. “Driving across somebody’s field, especially a farmer, and doing damage to their field is not going to be viewed well.”
All Grand Isle County schools will closed to ease traffic flow. Officials are working to figure out how high schoolers commuting to school off-island will get back home. If you’re local, Allen says to prepare to hunker down. “Make sure you got essentials — food, fuel, gas — because it’s going to be a huge draw,” he said.
Island officials say to keep an eye out for more specific recommendations when they know what eclipse day-of weather looks like.
Click here for all our eclipse coverage to help you get ready for the big day.