Beavers Bend State Park, located along the path of totality for the eclipse, is experiencing a surge in visitors. As a result, small towns in the area are capitalizing on the influx of tourists by offering day-of parking spots for a fee and free parking options in city parks.
Local businesses are embracing the opportunity to attract more customers and have quickly sold out of eclipse-themed merchandise like t-shirts, tumblers, and stickers. Donna Ray, one of the owners of Perfectly Imperfect Vintage Marketplace & Boutique, noted that many of the visitors were from out of town, including locations such as Chicago, Detroit, various cities in Oklahoma, Louisiana, and South Florida.
As McCurtain County anticipates a significant increase in population due to the surge of tourists, local businesses are excited to welcome them and make their visit memorable. Visitors can enjoy activities such as hiking trails and waterfalls while exploring Beavers Bend State Park.