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Seizing the opportunity: Miracle Mountain, Visitors Bureau partner for eclipse viewing event

Photos provided to the Times Observer Miracle Mountain Ranch will be the site for an eclipse viewing event in April.

This April’s solar eclipse will last for just minutes.

Much of Warren County is part of just a small sliver of the country that is in the path of totality for the eclipse on April 8.

That brings the potential for a substantial economic and tourism boost along with it.

And the first event aimed at tapping into that and providing eclipse viewers an experience is set.

It’s a joint effort between Miracle Mountain Ranch and the Warren County Visitors Bureau and they’re calling it “eCLIPse CLOP.”

The event at Miracle Mountain Ranch for the eclipse has been called the “eCLIPse CLOP.”

“We have had the eclipse on our radar for well over a year, and we have been anxiously watching for someone to seize the opportunity by holding a festival or event,” Warren County Visitors Bureau Executive Director Casey Ferry said. “As the time passed, we were not made aware of any such event, so we took it upon ourselves to grab the bull by the horns, so to speak.”

Miracle Mountain Ranch ticked the boxes they were looking for.

“We wanted a place in the northwestern corner of the county which would be well within the path of totality,” Ferry said, “and we wanted an open space on a large property. There literally could not be a more perfect place than Miracle Mountain Ranch.

“I reached out to them, and they jumped at the idea. They already had a retreat scheduled around the eclipse, so they expanded upon that to open it up to a broader audience.”

“For 60 years, Miracle Mountain Ranch has been blessed to call Warren County home,” Miracle Mountain Ranch Executive Director Matt Cox said. “We are very excited about the upcoming Eclipse and our proximity to viewing it, as the Lord will be displaying His glory through His handiwork.

Those who attend the eclipse event at Miracle Mountain Ranch will be given Warren County Visitors Bureau-themed viewing glasses.

“During this unique occurrence, we as a ministry are committed to sharing the truth, hope, and love of Christ, and during this unique occurrence, we will certainly be celebrating Him as the author of creation. The Ranch is thrilled for the opportunity to host folks for viewing this spectacular event.”

Three options are available for those who want to view the eclipse at the Ranch.

The first is for Monday afternoon only and costs $15 per person through April 1, when the price will increase. This includes tony rides (ages 2-7), the buckboard store, critter corral, climbing wall, Message from the Mountain, dinner, a cowboy campfire and a scheduled break in the afternoon to enjoy the solar eclipse.

Option two will cover all day Monday for $50 and add trail rides, nerf wars, slingshot, climbing wall, a confidence course and lunch in addition to the first option.

The third option is a full two-day retreat and includes lodging, Sunday dinner, chapel (optional), an ice cream social and games. Cost depends on lodging selection.

Souvenir eclipse glasses will be provided courtesy of the Warren County Visitors Bureau.

“The total solar eclipse is a big deal for everyone, but, for those of us in tourism, it’s an opportunity to create a great experience while giving a boost to the local economy,” Ferry said. “People will be coming from all over and will be staying in our hotels and eating in our restaurants.”

She encouraged restaurants to adjust their hours and lodging establishments to make as many rooms as possible available.

“Some places are already selling out,” she said. “The cities in the path will certainly fill up, but we have the unique opportunity to experience the eclipse in a quieter environment with less light pollution.”

Registration is available at mmrm.org.

“I want to thank Miracle Mountain Ranch for their willingness to work with us and offer this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to our community and well beyond,” Ferry said. I mean, just think of the memories this will create for those in attendance, not to mention the people that will come and experience Miracle Mountain and Warren County who may not otherwise have come.”

“We at MMR are excited to be able to partner with the Warren County Visitors Bureau for this once-in-a-lifetime event,” Josh Bridges, camp director, said. “A total solar eclipse shows us that our God is an artist, and we are thrilled to open our doors for families and individuals to revel in the beauty of creation.

“There are countless events centered on the eclipse in the path of totality which stretches in a relatively narrow line from Texas to Maine, cutting through the northwestern corner of Pennsylvania,” Ferry said. “We are very fortunate that this line also cuts through about half of Warren County, and we want to embrace it.

“The fact that there’s only a fraction of Pennsylvania in the path is a benefit to Warren County.”

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