Advertisement
  • National News
  • State News
  • Contact Us
Subscribe for $2.50/month
Print Editions
Pocahontas Times
  • News Sections
    • Local
    • Sports
    • A&E
  • Obituaries
  • Community
  • Magistrate News
    • Circuit Court News
  • Compass
  • Spiritual
    • Parabola
    • Transcendental Meditation
    • Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
    • Southern Baptist
  • Pocahontas County Veterans
  • etimes
  • Classifieds
  • Login
  • FAQ
No Result
View All Result
Pocahontas Times
No Result
View All Result
Print Editions
Pocahontas Times
No Result
View All Result

Watoga State Park prepares to go dark

September 29, 2021
in Local Stories
0
0
SHARES
75
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Stargazers, rejoice! Watoga State Park is on its way to becoming an officially recognized Dark Sky Park. Watoga has long been known as one of the darkest and most light-pollution-free areas in Central Appalachia, providing spectacular views of clear night skies.

At 10,000 acres, Watoga will be West Virginia’s first Dark Sky Park. Expected to be included in the designation are Calvin Price State Forest, which adjoins Watoga to the south, and nearby Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park. Together, the three areas encompass 19,869 acres.

According to the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), a Dark Sky Park (DSP) is “a land possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage and/or public enjoyment.”

As the largest state park in West Virginia, earning the DSP designation would add yet another feather to Watoga’s cap.

The application process began two years ago, culminating in a 99-page application that included detailed measurements of night sky depth by local astronomers and light pollution maps, and resulted in the replacement of 181 outdoor light fixtures and bulbs to be dark sky-compliant.

Watoga Lake, the Anne Bailey trailhead, and other areas in the park should provide scenic nocturnal viewing opportunities for astronomers, tourists, photographers and visitors. Future plans include educational programs and star parties for dark-sky enthusiasts at Watoga, Droop Mountain and Calvin Price.

“The [pending] designation will put Watoga on the radar of groups or individuals who seek out dark sky facilities,” said Watoga superintendent Jody Spencer. “Dark skies have always been noticeable at Watoga, where night hikes, nighttime boating, and owl walks are popular activities. I think the real benefit to park guests is the fact that light pollution in the park has been greatly diminished.”

Stay tuned to our website (highland-outdoors.com) for more information on this exciting announcement.

For more information and visit the Watoga State Park Foundation – Dark Sky Project Facebook page.

Reprinted with permission from Highland Outdoors magazine, Fall 2021 edition

– – –

John Dean is a writer and editor who grew up in Watoga in the 1960s. He is an active board member of the Watoga State Park Foundation.

Subscribe to our newsletter.

Enter your email address to weekly notifications.

You will receive a confirmation email for your subscription. Please check your inbox and spam folder to complete the confirmation process.
Some fields are missing or incorrect!
Lists
Previous Post

Nature’s Mountain Classroom kicks off with a splash

Next Post

Preserving Pocahontas

Next Post
Preserving Pocahontas

Preserving Pocahontas

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News Sections
  • Obituaries
  • Community
  • Magistrate News
  • Compass
  • Spiritual
  • Pocahontas County Veterans
  • etimes
  • Classifieds
  • Login
  • FAQ
Call us: 304-799-4973

  • Login
Forgot Password?
Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.
body::-webkit-scrollbar { width: 7px; } body::-webkit-scrollbar-track { border-radius: 10px; background: #f0f0f0; } body::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb { border-radius: 50px; background: #dfdbdb }
No Result
View All Result
  • News Sections
    • Local
    • Sports
    • A&E
  • Obituaries
  • Community
  • Magistrate News
    • Circuit Court News
  • Compass
  • Spiritual
    • Parabola
    • Transcendental Meditation
    • Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
    • Southern Baptist
  • Pocahontas County Veterans
  • etimes
  • Classifieds
  • Login
  • FAQ