Entry No. 129 — the Denver file — filed under: hillside-star
Palmer Lake Star
Hand-built by volunteers in 1935 to lift Depression-era spirits, the Palmer Lake Star is a 457-foot-wide, five-pointed star outlined in LED lights across a 58-percent slope of Sundance Mountain — listed on the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties and still lit every December plus special occasions, visible from I-25 for miles in either direction. A KKTV live broadcast confirmed it was lit for Memorial Day 2026, and a community Chili Supper lighting event ran November 29, 2025.
The story
In June 1935, regional utility manager B.E. Jack sat in Sloan's Café in Palmer Lake, drank coffee with local restaurant owner Bert Sloan, and pitched a Depression-era morale project: bolt a 457-foot-wide, five-pointed star to a 58-percent slope of rock and scrub oak on Sundance Mountain. Landowner Arthur Bradley granted permission for the site, surveyor Byron Medlock drew up the transit angles, and linemen Richard Wolf and C.E. Rader scavenged spare power poles and wire from Mountain Utilities. Volunteer crews carried buckets of wet concrete and steel posts up the loose scree on foot. When they flicked the switch that winter, the geometry looked distorted from Highway 105, forcing crews back up the slope to re-anchor the points until the proportions lined up.
What you see today isn't a slick commercial display; it's a piece of 1930s hillside monogramming made of 30 galvanized steel posts, steel support cables, and 92 LED bulbs spanning 1.5 acres. The Palmer Lake Volunteer Fire Department maintains the installation, climbing the steep ridge to replace blown bulbs and clear debris. You didn't hear it from us, but the town's annual Chili Supper on the Saturday after Thanksgiving features a raffle where the winner gets to pull the switch that lights the entire 400-foot frame across the valley.
Because the star tilts southeast against the mountain, its scale shifts as you move past on I-25 or Highway 105. From 20 miles away, it looks like a small emblem pinned to the Front Range; stand directly beneath the framework on Sundance Mountain, and you are inside an eight-story grid of post anchors and high-voltage wiring overlooking the town. Outside of December, the fire department occasionally lights the star for notable events, including the return of American hostages from Iran in 1981, early pandemic stay-at-home orders in 2020, and Memorial Day.
What it's like
If you visit in winter, expect Palmer Lake's town center to fill up early, particularly during the post-Thanksgiving Chili Supper when crowds gather at Town Hall before the hillside lights up. For a view without hiking, park near the town center or along Highway 105 after dark to watch the star float against the dark ridge. To stand among the light posts, hike the Sundance Mountain Loop from the Palmer Lake Reservoir Trailhead, but know the catch: the descent features loose granite scree on a 58-percent slope, dogs are forbidden on the trail, and the small trailhead lot requires paid parking. Your best option is to hike the trail before dusk in late autumn, watch the lights switch on, and head down before ice settles on the loose footing.
The move: Drive up to Palmer Lake in late November or December for the annual Star Lighting and Chili Supper (held the Saturday after Thanksgiving at the town center), watch the hillside blaze to life after dark, then walk the short trail up Sundance Mountain to stand among the glowing posts — a strange, quiet, genuinely moving piece of small-town Americana that you can see from 30 miles away on I-25.
📍 Before you go The star sits on a steep slope of Sundance Mountain just west of the town of Palmer Lake — when lit, it's easy to spot from a distance off I-25 or Colorado Highway 105, and you don't need to climb anything to take it in. To stand among the light posts themselves, hike the Sundance Mountain Loop from the Palmer Lake Reservoir Trailhead; it's a moderately challenging few miles with loose, steep footing on the descent, so wear real shoes and skip it in icy or wet conditions. The trailhead lot is small and paid, and dogs aren't allowed on that trail. Hiking season runs roughly spring through fall, while the star itself is a winter spectacle best seen after dark — lighting dates shift, so check ahead. Pair it with a wander around little Palmer Lake's town center.
- 📍 Palmer Lake
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 500 Highland Road, Palmer Lake, CO 80133
Hours: Mined 2026-06-07 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Estemere — Pair the Depression-era star with a pass by this 1887 Queen Anne Victorian mansion built by Palmer Lake's founder just 0.3 miles away.
- Scileppi's at the Old Stone Church — Head 17 miles north to Castle Rock for handmade Italian food inside an 1888 rhyolite Catholic church after watching the hillside light up.
- Castlewood Canyon Dam Ruins — Combine Palmer Lake's 1935 hillside landmark with a hike through the massive concrete ruins of an 1890 dam collapse in nearby Franktown.
- B&B Cafe — Follow up a winter trip to the star with diner food at this 1946 Castle Rock institution, where original bullet holes remain in the ceiling.
Good to know
When is the Palmer Lake Star lit?
The star is lit nightly from the Saturday after Thanksgiving through December 31st, as well as on select holidays like Memorial Day and Independence Day, or during special town events.
Can I hike directly to the star on Sundance Mountain?
Yes. You can reach the 1.5-acre site via the Sundance Mountain Loop starting at the Palmer Lake Reservoir Trailhead, though the trail has loose footing and a steep 58-percent grade on the descent.
Is there an entrance fee to see the Palmer Lake Star?
Viewing the star from town, Highway 105, or I-25 is free. If you park at the Palmer Lake Reservoir Trailhead to hike up Sundance Mountain, you must pay a parking fee at the lot.
Are dogs permitted on the trail up to the star?
No. Dogs are strictly prohibited on the Sundance Mountain Loop trail originating at the Palmer Lake Reservoir Trailhead.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: coloradoencyclopedia.org · Official site · kktv.com · denvergazette.com
last checked: 2026-06-07