Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
McDonald Observatory
OBSERVATORY
( 432-426-3640;
www.mcdonaldobservatory.org
;
3640 Dark Sky Dr; daytime pass adult/child 6-12yr/under 6yr $8/
7/free, star parties adult/child $12/8; visitor center 10am-5:30pm; )
Away from all the light pollu-
tion of the big cities, the middle of west Texas has some of the clearest and darkest skies
in North America, making it the perfect spot for an observatory. They have some of the
biggest telescopes in the world here, perched on the peak of 6791ft Mt Locke and so
enormous you can spot them from miles away.
A day pass gets you a guided tour (11am and 2pm) that includes close-up peeks at - but
not through - the 107in Harlan J Smith Telescope and the 430in Hobby-Eberly Telescope,
as well as a solar viewing, where you get to stare at the sun without scorching your eye-
balls. On Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights, the star parties help you see the night sky
in a whole new way.
The observatory is 19 miles northwest of Fort Davis. Allow 30 minutes to drive from
town, and get there early because tours fill up fast - especially in March, when they're
packed with spring breakers.
Fort Davis National Historic Site
( 432-426-3224;
www.nps.gov/foda
;
Hwy 17; adult/child $3/free; 8am-5pm except major holidays)
A re-
markably well-preserved frontier military post with an impressive backdrop at the foot of
Sleeping Lion Mountain
, Fort Davis was established in 1854 and abandoned in 1891. More
than 20 buildings remain - five of them restored with period furnishings - as well as 100
or so ruins.
It's easy to picture the fort as it was in 1880, especially with bugle calls sounding in the
background. It's even easier in the summer months, when interpreters dressed in period
clothing are on hand to describe life at the fort.
The fort is strategically located at the foot of Sleeping Lion Mountain and
Hospital
Canyon
. The site serves as trailhead for several hikes, ranging from the 1-mile
Tall Grass Loop
to the more ambitious 3-mile trek to
Davis Mountains State Park
. Ask for a trail map in the
fort's visitor center.
HISTORIC SITE
Davis Mountains State Park
PARK
