A smattering of vendors, food trucks and eclipse viewers turned out at the airport as part of the 2024 Solar Eclipse event which the majority of Chautauqua County was in the path of totality of viewing.

Members of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol guided visitors to find parking spaces, which became fewer and fewer as the event carried on and the eclipse time approached. Event goers had a variety of options to choose from such as ax throwing, purchasing leather, wood and beadwork, many types of food, while a disc jockey played music and gave viewing instructions.

With the unobscured viewing opportunities, the airport became somewhat of a favored location for not only Chautauqua County residents, but that of out-of- state viewers as well.

“We came in from Florida,” said Dough Bartholomew, 70, a resident of West Palm Beach, Fla. “We figured with Lucille Ball being from here, and the National Comedy Center, we might as well make a little trip out of this.”

Eclipse viewers at the Chautauqua County Airport were treated to a fair-like atmosphere before the eclipse and after eclipse, Monday. Several food, drink and product vendors set up shops at the airport parking lot, terminal and sub terminals and were well attended. Moreover, a sampling of the event attendees showcased the vast drawing power of this eclipse, event attendees came from such locations as N.J., Ohio, La., Fla. and Ore. P J Photo by Christopher Blakeslee

For Bartholomew’s wife, Dotty, one of the previously mentioned reasons bore more weight on their choice to visit the area.

“I love Lucy. I’ve been wanting to make a trip here, for a long time. I watch ‘I Love Lucy’ reruns all the time, and we both love all things solar-related, so this was a match made in the heavens for us,” she said.

However, the airport is also some of the area residents top choice for viewing the event.

“I like the open viewing opportunities the airport affords,” said Steve Heggarty, a Jamestown resident. “It’s not super crowded, and the food vendors are reasonably priced, no problems finding a parking space, so this was a win-win.”

According to Dave Hinz, flight president/flight instructor at Great Lakes Flight Center, five aircraft were available for pilots to rent to be able to watch and enjoy the eclipse from the air.

For viewing the actual eclipse, event attendees had the option of watching from the airport parking lot or the airport runway.