Hopkinsville has become Eclipseville but can it handle the sea of humanity headed its way?

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky.— Edgar Cayce has been dead since 1945 but still has a say about what goes on in the small Kentucky town he once called home.

The man known as The Sleeping Prophet was a celebrated mystic who trafficked in prophecy, healing and reincarnation. And as the world turns its attention on Hopkinsville for the Aug. 21 solar eclipse, Cayce has a piece of the action.

A farm just outside of Hopkinsville will offer the ideal spot to witness the full totality of the eclipse for a spectacularly dark 2 minutes and 41.2 seconds. And Cayce believed that this eclipse will be enormously significant: It will usher in the Age of Aquarius, a time when peace and love will rule.

"I think that's pretty special for our town to usher in a new age of love," said Janet Bravard, director of exhibits and programs at Hopkinsville's Pennyroyal Area Museum. 

"Of course, it'll take all of us to make it right. ... I think our town has gotten all the hospitality it can conjure up to prepare for it."

There's no time like the present to start because love – along with patience and kindness – will come in handy when eclipse chasers from 38 states and 16 countries descend upon Hopkinsville.

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As many as 200,000 tourists, scientists and eclipse junkies are expected to swamp the quiet town of 33,000, many of them arriving early for camping and a music festival. Roads will be clogged, schools will be closed.

Hopkinsville Mayor Carter Hendricks said the town is ready for its moment in the sun, so to speak, although he's quick to point out that no one really knows what that means in such extraordinary circumstances.

"We're encouraging our residents to really embrace this opportunity," Hendricks said. "We know that it's going to create a little more hassle over that weekend, but when it's all said and done it's going to be worth it because it's giving us a chance to showcase ... all of the region for a worldwide audience." 

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For some perspective, Hopkinsville's biggest annual tourism event in years past was the Little River Days Festival, which drew 15,000 at its peak.

But 100,000 or more tourists, many of them spread across the city's modest 31 square miles? That, said Hendricks, is unknown territory.

"We're all being told to get our groceries, gas, and everything else before it starts, to treat it like a snowstorm," said Nancy Stalls. "I'm looking forward to it for the notoriety but the crowds of people, if they come, will be overwhelming."

Hopkinsville will spend $500,000 to ensure the comfort and safety of its temporary residents, Hendricks said, with most of the money going to pay police officers, firefighters, and for the rental of portable restrooms and showers.

The economic impact for the region has been estimated at $30 million and groceries, restaurants, liquor stores and gas stations have been duly warned to stock up, and then stock up some more. 

Ferrell's Snappy Service has been making Western Kentucky-style hamburgers on Main Street since 1934. Most of the orders are carry-out as Ferrell's only seats eight, or roughly 0.01 percent of its potential customers come the eclipse. 

A refrigerated truck will be used for extra supplies, but waits for delicacies such as Ferrell's double cheeseburger may be as long as three hours on eclipse weekend, said Scott Harris, the restaurant's director of operations

"How they gonna get all those people here?" wondered Marilyn Chambers, who has worked the Ferrell's grill for 15 years.

"I'm ready to leave, I don't like crowds," said Kerri Thomas, who will instead be slinging apple fritters at Whistle Stop Donuts. "It's exciting, though. The most exciting thing that happens around here is if somebody gets shot."

"We're excited about it but we're not ready for it," said Stephanie Flores, a Rite Aid manager.

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Most of Hopkinsville shares that combination of anticipation and disbelief. It's simply difficult to imagine that many people when the entirety of Christian County contains fewer than 74,000 residents.

While many viewing areas are on parcels of land outside of downtown proper, downtown Hopkinsville will be the focus Friday through Sunday with its Summer Salute festival, and Hoptown proper is small enough to easily cover on foot.

Foot traffic may be the only traffic come eclipse weekend as gridlock is expected to be the norm, especially on Aug. 21.

At the Hopkinsville Brewing Company, owner Kate Russell is expecting to do booming walk-up business, at least to a point.

"I fully anticipate I'll run out of beer," she said.  

The town was alerted a decade ago to the potential impact of the eclipse, which is the first total eclipse in 99 years to travel the width of North America.

Astronomers determined that Hopkinsville would be dark for 2 minutes and 41.2 seconds, one of the longer durations, and that nearby Orchardale Shepherd Farm would offer the spot where the moon will achieve maximum coverage.

That combination is catnip for scientists, eclipse aficionados and the merely curious.

Preparation began in earnest five years ago, Hendricks said, after an eclipse expert addressed a forum at Hopkinsville Community College. He showed photos where tens of thousands of people had gathered even in remote locations.

"That's where for the first time I really began to understand the magnitude of what we were talking about," Hendricks said. "I think we were all looking at it with a healthy degree of skepticism but when he shared those photos ... it really struck me that this was going to be something significant."

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The question is how significant? Over the last few years, parts of downtown Hopkinsville have been buzzing with the addition of several new businesses – a boutique, the brewery, an art gallery – and that surge has been attributed to the eclipse.

The goal, Hendricks said, is to maintain celestial momentum. 

"There's no doubt that the eclipse has captured the imagination of the residents of this region and that's allowed us to then capitalize off that and encourage people to dream bigger dreams and expect more out of our own community," Hendricks said.

"So our commitment once we get past Aug. 21 is not to slow down." 

Reporter Jeffrey Lee Puckett can be reached at 502-582-4160 and jpuckett@courier-journal.com. 

Where to watch the eclipse in and around Hopkinsville 

Don't forget: Areas around Hoptown, such as Bowling Green, Paducah,Princeton and Eddyville, are also hosting events for the eclipse. Get the info here.

Christian County High School is offering parking spaces to view the eclipse. Reserve a space for $30. For tickets, click here. 

Several churches in Hopkinsville including Calvary Memorial Baptist Church, All Nations House of Prayer Church and Westview Assembly of God will be offering parking space to view the eclipse. Prices range from $20 to $50. More info: curlinministries.org

Western Kentucky State Fairgrounds will have viewing areas for $30 a space. First-come, first-served basis. More info here. 

Christian Way Farm and Mini Golf will be offering eclipse viewing at $15 per person. Reservations are required. Tickets here. 

Novadell Steakhouse will be open for eclipse viewing. $10 to $15 per person. Restrooms and refreshments will be available on site. For more information, call Joey Allen at 270-719-2041. 

Murray State University will have parking lot spaces available for $50. Click here for more.

Casey Jones Distillery, camping and RV parking, $175 to $400 for three- to four-night stays. Tickets here. 

MB Roland Distillery will have weekend-long festivities. Passes range from $5 to $25. Tent, camper and RV sites available for $400 to $600. More info: mbroland.com/eclipse-day-passes 

The Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, 20 miles northwest of Hopkinsville in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, will be holding a viewing party on the golf course of the resort on the day of the eclipse. $10 entrance fee per person and $5 parking fee. More info here. 

Land Between the Lakes, 38 miles west of Hopkinsville, offering free parking spots and solar viewing event at the Golden Pond Planetarium. Prices range from $3 to $5, free for children under 4. More info: landbetweenthelakes.us/best-2017-eclipse-viewing-areas