In the months leading up to the eclipse, everyone was inundated with warnings and projections about the unprecedented number of visitors expected in Oregon. Luckily many of the reports proved to be exaggerations. However for towns like Depoe Bay, the lower turnout was somewhat of a disappointment.
Depoe Bay was the first town to experience the Great American Eclipse. Like the rest of Oregon, it had spent months preparing to receive the over one million anticipated travelers. But when the big day finally rolled around, Mayor of Depoe Bay Barbara Leff says it was a surprise when only 3000 to 5000 eclipse chasers showed.
“It absolutely was a disappointment," says Mayor Leff. "We all expected the hotels to be filled, the restaurants to run out of food…I mean this is what we were being told to expect.”
Nonetheless, Mayor Leff says those visitors that did come were from all over the world and had what she describes as an amazing eclipse viewing experience. Even the resident grey whales turned up to take part in the celestial event.
“I don’t know if they knew it was an eclipse, I don’t know if they cared. Folks that were here were really torn between watching the eclipse and watching the whales,” says Leff.