Not knowing just how many people might roll into Southern Illinois and for how long both complicates preparations and makes them imperative, Johnson said.

“It is definitely more than any of us could have possibly fathomed,” Johnson said of the eclipse’s popularity. “If we do this right, we have an opportunity to learn and grow from it and do it again in 2024.”

Or, even lure first-time visitors back to the region simply because of its tourism amenities, she said. Help could be on the way through a pending $42,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant under the agency’s Rural Development program.

The USDA approached Johnson about applying for the grant, which would aid marketing efforts including a website dedicated to promoting a 16-county region in connection to the eclipse and social media, she said.

A double-edged sword emerges, though. The guests are wanted, but can the area accommodate that many people all at once?

With some 300,000 acres of public land in Southern Illinois, squeezing hundreds of thousands into our space might not be an issue.

Numerous private property owners have already been asking county officials what they can and cannot do when it comes to hosting out-of-towners.