West Virginia tourism just got a boost: Watoga State Park in Pocahontas County just earned a Dark Sky Park designation from the International Dark-Sky Association.
According to the IDA, a Dark Sky Park 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.”
At Watoga State Park, stargazers can see the Milky Way in the summer, and the Triagulum Galaxy can be seen with direct vision (looking at it straight on, instead of looking at it from the corner of your eye). The park will offer loaner telescopes to cabin guests and will host a variety of events and educational programs centered around its unique nighttime opportunities.
Tourism is a booming industry in West Virginia, and Watoga now has the only Dark Sky Park designation in the Mid-Atlantic region, making it a destination for stargazers up and down the East Coast. West Virginia is lucky to have such incredible natural beauty, and it’s past time the state made preserving and showcasing it an economic opportunity.
