Chris Soules is no longer Iowa's most eligible bachelor.
Fans from around the Midwest gathered in Dubuque, Iowa, Monday to watch the season finale of The Bachelor at the hotel where the show was partially filmed.
The Hotel Julien served as the set for two episodes during Chris Soules' season, including Episode 8's rose ceremony and the final dates on Monday's finale. Hotel Julien is the first U.S. hotel to be chosen for a Bachelor finale, and general manager Dwight Hopfauf said that has meant tremendous exposure for both the hotel and Dubuque.
The filming process, though, was very secretive.
"The first week of August, I came back to my desk, and I had a very cryptic voicemail message from the producers. They wouldn't give me the name of the reality show," said Hopfauf.
Hopfauf says he had to sign nondisclosure agreements, and only four people at the hotel actually knew which show was filming.
"Loose lips sink ships, but that wasn't going to happen here," said Hopfauf.
The Hotel Julien hosted watch parties for each of the season's episodes, including one that was crashed by Bachelor Chris. The finale party, though, drew some of the area's most diehard fans.
"I drove three-and-a-half hours to get here, and I am excited as excited can be," said Michael Murphy, who made the trek from Aurora, Illinois.
"I haven't watched it for years, but like, it's an Iowa boy," said Gretchen Owen, who came from Davenport for the event. "Come on. He's sexy as hell!"
Owen, like many in attendance, said she believes the national attention on Iowa will only mean good things for Dubuque and the entire state.
"I think it's amazing. We are a great state! There are a lot of great men here," said Owen.
"Most of us here, we're all hard-core Dubuque'rs. We are cheerleaders for our town and our city and the state of Iowa, so we're excited just to follow Chris because he is an Iowa farm boy. But also, it's just super incredible to see it filmed at the Hotel Julien in Dubuque," added Katie Bahl.
During Monday's season finale, Soules proposed to Whitney Bischoff, a fertility nurse from Chicago.