CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. (Delmarva Now) — Having rockets launch just a few miles away can be good for business.
That's what people who live and work around Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia have learned in recent years, anyway. Tourists are commonplace during the summer on Chincoteague Island, which is just a few miles from Wallops, but the Antares program brings people to the area even in the off-season.
Antares rockets launch from Wallops somewhat regularly and are visible for miles around. The best views are from the immediate surrounding area, however, so hotels with good views fill up quickly.
"We get a ton of business when a rocket is set to launch," said Cynthia Wilder, marketing manager for Refuge Inn in Chincoteague. "We often fill up completely."
The hotel runs launch specials and posts about the launches on social media. Wilder called launches a "great tool" to draw in business, especially for times when visitors wouldn't traditionally consider visiting the area.
Wilder has worked at the hotel for several years, and since the rockets starting blasting off in 2013, she's noticed a change in clientele when launches happen. Government employees once stayed at Refuge Inn but now favor newer chain hotels where they can earn points. As a result, Refuge Inn gets a lot more tourists choosing to take a day or two off to watch the launch.
Local hotels aren't the only ones to benefit. Jason Wiles, general manager at Ropewalk Restaurant in Chincoteague, says the money the restaurant is able to bring in during launches is in part what allows the restaurant to stay open year round.
"I order extra food. I add more servers and more bartenders. I plan ahead for (the launches)," Wiles said. "There's another 500 people on the island, so I order double our normal sales to ensure we have enough."
Evelyn Shotwell, executive director of the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, said it was difficult to estimate the exact economic impact of the launches. A survey of hotels, however, indicated that almost all local rooms were expected to be booked.
With a planned 4:49 a.m. launch time Thursday, many people will opt to stay overnight and set an alarm to make sure they get the best views. Shotwell said many of those people will also visit restaurants and even check out local shops before heading home, a boost especially appreciated in the spring, fall and winter.
The most lucrative launches for surrounding businesses, however, are the ones that get delayed.
"The best launches for the economy are those that slip a day or two and therefore necessitate a longer stay for visitors," Shotwell wrote in an email.
When launches are pushed off by a day or two, some visitors will cancel their bookings, Wilder said, but many still come down, and some even stay for an extra night.
It can be a little concerning when the hotel orders extra breakfast food, for instance, and it appears the number of guests may drop, but Wilder said it always evens out in the end.
"Some people will cancel, but everyone comes back," Wilder said. "When the launch happens again in a few months, everyone comes back. It's always good for business when there's a rocket in town."
When: Thursday at 4:49 a.m.
Why: To bring materials, including food and science experiments, to the International Space Station
Reach reporter Hayley Harding via email at hharding@delmarvanow.com or on Twitter @Hayley__Harding.