POLK COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) — Sunday was Groundhog Day, and the question of 6 more weeks of winter or an early spring was answered across the country, including in western North Carolina.
For the last 19 years, groundhogs have been predicting either a longer winter or early spring at Chimney Rock State Park. But this year, the event took place at Tyron International Equestrian Center.
“We were pretty sad that after the damage from Helene we wouldn’t be able to have our event and these folks have been amazing, Tryon International Equestrian Center,” Emily Walker with Chimney Rock Management told 7NEWS.
Although the setting was different, the faces doing the predicting were the same.
“Tator is our groundhog,” Walker added. “The idea is he will come out of this little house, look around and see if he sees his shadow. If he does its 6 more weeks of winter, and if he doesn’t, we can expect an early spring according to groundhog-ology.”
It’s that science that drew hundreds of people to the event like Frank Clancey.
“I am with my family to meet Tater for the first time and see if he sees his shadow or not,” Clancey added. “We hope the nice weather will be coming up shortly, and not more weeks of winter.”
The crowd eagerly watched for Tator’s answer.
“He didn’t see his shadow, that means spring is just around the corner,” Peter O’Leary, Mayor of Chimney Rock, announced.
But Tator wasn’t done just yet. He predicted that the Kansas City Chiefs would win the Superbowl. Chimney Rock State Park said their groundhogs have around a 60 percent accuracy rate.