NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — The expectations were big. Based on past eclipse experiences many officials felt Western New York would be packed with crowds for the total solar eclipse.
But while the weather literally dimmed some of those expectations, the U.S. city of Niagara Falls and its businesses apparently still did very well over the eclipse weekend.
We could see all that video and those pictures out of Niagara Falls with that normally picturesque setting enhanced in the minds of many for a spectacular setting to see another natural wonder with the eclipse.
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And with the crowds, apparently the busy hotels made out well according to Chief Operating Officer Andrea Czopp of Destination Niagara USA.
"Still about a week to a week and half for something we call the Star report to come out to see what the actual numbers ended up being. But you know leading into eclipse weekend, I know that the hotels were all at almost 100 percent occupancy. I know some of that fluctuated a bit, which we suspected it might once the weather reports came out that it was going to be cloudy," Czopp said.
She added this on hotel rooms: "I know some were ranging anywhere from $500 to up to close to $1,000. I know those rates start to fluctuate a little bit as you get closer to an event, if rooms are still available. Hotels will tend to drop the rate a little bit to see if they can get more people in."
That included the Cambria Hotel, which just opened on March 28 and caught late booking reservations if others were full. Otherwise, we have already heard about the estimated crowd of 45,000 in the sate park itself.
Mayor Robert Restaino pointed out that "there were people you know four or five deep at the rails along the Falls. There was a bustle downtown."
With that bustle the Old Falls area hosted a special weekend fair event with vendors and food trucks.
Czopp explained: "It was really well attended. I was there all weekend and if felt like Fourth of July. You know with the weather being so beautiful too people were just everywhere. And actually, we were were doing so well. It was supposed to end at 7 o'clock. We actually extended to 9 p.m. because people were still around."
Apparently that crowd really did stick around instead of the quick exit we saw from viewing venues in Buffalo.
"Even after it was over people, stuck around," Czopp said. "People were hanging out on Old Falls Street. People were at the park still. Everyone just seemed really happy and calm. I think that's the best word I can say is, there just seemed to be a lot of contentment."
And finally, what about those visitors at the Falls eclipse?
"A lot of out of town. A lot of Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, which is what we figured," Czopp said. "It's drive-market locations, places people were able to get to relatively easily. But we also met a lot of people at our visitors center who were here from other countries. Germany stands out. A lot of people popped in on us from Germany, Spain, so I think there were people, definitely an international draw."
Czopp added that she was also proud that all agencies and law enforcement really planned and coordinated for a smooth operation and weekend.