Goldendale Observatory State Park Rennovation

Since 1973 Goldendale has been home to a great treasure. Right on the hill overlooking town we have one of the largest and most accessible public telescopes in the nation. Thousands of star gazers, amateur astronomers, and students travel to Goldendale every year to meet the stars at Goldendale Observatory State Park, one of only 20 certified dark sky parks on earth.

And it’s only going to get better. As the observatory’s Troy Carpenter points out in Shelby Taylor’s article “Observatory gets new telescope, undergoes major renovation”, the “fully upgraded research specification telescope will easily be one of the finest, if not the finest, public telescope in the world.” And not only is the telescope getting an upgrade, the entire facility is going to be revamped, updated and expanded. Plans are being drawn up as we speak. As the project architect, Patano Studio Architecture points out on their Facebook page: “Goldendale Observatory renovation, an absolutely stunning site and a rare asset for a State Parks system. We are looking forward to transforming the site and building and interpretive content.”

Transformation. New beginnings. Anticipation.

Solar and Star Gazing

Goldendale Observatory State Park is one of the few dark-sky parks on earth featuring one of the nation’s largest public telescopes. The observatory has attracted tens of thousands of sky-watchers since its dedication in 1973. The park offers daytime solar viewing and magnificent views of the universe at night. Open Year Round

Winter Hours from October 1 – March 31

Open Friday-Sunday, 1 to 9 p.m.

2:00 p.m. Solar Show
6:00 p.m. Night Sky Show

 Closed Monday-Thursday

Friends of Goldendale Observatory
PO Box 899
Goldendale, WA 98620

Friends of Goldendale Observatory (FoGO)  is a non-profit group that helps support the Goldendale Observatory State Park in Goldendale, Washington. FoGO provides important support by purchasing supplies and equipment that are not in the Park’s budget, and assisting park personnel with volunteers, interns, and amateur astronomers.

Special Presentations

If your school or group would like to have the Friends of the Goldendale Observatory do a daytime or nighttime astronomy presentation with telescopic observation of the Sun, or the Moon, stars & planets, please contact us at 509.773.3141.