The Eclipse may be the single largest event that brings people to Piute County in the county’s history

Marysvale, Utah — When you own a small business, you do everything you can to make it work, even if that means washing dishes.

Robert Thompson said, “Any work to be done is work to be done.”

He and his wife bought Crystal Big Rock Candy Mountain Resort Near Marysvale in just the last year.

Robert and Crystal Thompson wash dishes in the resort’s kitchen. (Mark Wetzel/KSL-TV)

It’s a place they’ve visited before, so when they noticed it was for sale, they decided to give it a try.

“I’d been working in corporate America for years and was exhausted doing it,” said Robert Thompson.

They knew that buying the resort was a risk, but they also felt that with a lot of hard work, they could get people to pass by.

“Honestly, it’s a really magical place. So, we’re just hoping to build on that,” Crystal Thompson said.

Marysville, Utah, in Butte County, will host perhaps its largest event in its history with an annular eclipse on Saturday, October 14, 2023. (Mark Wetzel/KSL TV)

They bought the resort, which is in Sevier County above the Butte County line, just in time. Because there is nothing that attracts people to something you don’t see every day. Or in this case every decade.

“We’ve already been booked in since the end of April. We’re opening up some spots for people to camp and bring their RV so there’s more space for everyone,” said Robert Thompson.

Marysvale is one of several Utah communities that lie in the middle of the path of the upcoming large annular eclipse on the morning of Saturday, October 14. It may be the largest event that draws people to Butte County in the county’s history.

Marysville, Utah, in Butte County, will host perhaps its largest event in its history with an annular eclipse on Saturday, October 14, 2023. (Mark Wetzel/KSL TV)

“I think everyone’s a little nervous, right? We just don’t know what’s going to happen. We saw what happened in Idaho a few years ago and we were hoping to avoid that but we won’t know until it happens,” said Darren Bushman, Butte County Commissioner. Businesses are getting ready and we think we’ll be getting ready for the crowds.”

with Events, music, food and portable toiletsBushman feels the county and the companies did a great job preparing.

Bushman also believes the eclipse is a great opportunity for people to discover an area that may not be getting the tourist attention it deserves.

“Honestly, we have the most beautiful scenery in the state,” Bushman said. “We see this as an opportunity to introduce people to Beauty County and hope they will book for next year.”

That’s what Thompson hopes.

A worker repainting a sign in preparation for the solar eclipse event. (Mark Wetzel/KSL-TV)

“The first thing we did when we bought it was to raise awareness that we are here and what we need to do here,” Crystal said. “Many other businesses in the county are also involved in showcasing what we have.”

Who knew that a big shadow could put them and the area in the spotlight even bigger?

“We’ve been hearing through the grapevine that the Sheriff’s Department is expecting over 30,000 people to come to the area,” Robert said. “That’s a lot of people considering that about 30,000 people live within a 50-mile radius of Big Rock Candy Mountain.”