Hello darkness, my old friend: Searching for stars at Black Mesa in the Oklahoma Panhandle
Mike Dennis was only 11 when he got a Gilbert telescope as a Christmas gift from his parents.
Sixty-five years later, the Oklahoma City resident is still star-gazing, only with more expensive and powerful telescopes.
"I just never kicked the habit," said Dennis, 76, a member of the Oklahoma City Astronomy Club. "I bet I have spent $50,000 over the last 40 years on astronomy stuff."
Dennis was president of the OKC Astronomy Club almost 40 years ago when he organized the first Okie-Tex Star Party with like-minded friends from Dallas and Houston. For 15 years, the star-gazing event was held at Lake Murray, but in 1999 it moved to Black Mesa and has become one of the best star parties in the world.
It has been ranked as high as the third-best star party by magazine writers and bloggers, Dennis said. At the Black Mesa near Kenton in the Oklahoma Panhandle, the lack of light pollution makes it one of the best places in the world for star lovers.
"It's incredibly, incredibly dark up there," Dennis said.
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'Kind of like a family reunion'
The 39th Okie-Tex Star Party will be held Sept. 23-30 at Camp Billy Joe, a Christian youth camp just three miles from Black Mesa State Park. The campgrounds are in a canyon surrounded by three mesas.
Organizers always pick a week of the new moon for the event, when the sky will be the darkest.
Stargazers from across the country and around the world have traveled to the Oklahoma Panhandle to view the stars. One year an astronomy buff came all the way from Hong Kong. This year, a star watcher is coming from Toronto. Many people return to the star party each year.
"It's kind of like a family reunion," Dennis said. "It is really laid back and friendly. The people that come see us are on vacation. They want to enjoy their hobby so we don't beat them over the head with a bunch of rules."
The Okie-Tex Star Party has been described as Woodstock without the drugs and loud music. Most people camp in RVs or tents, with some bringing a trailer full of high-powered telescopes and astronomy gear. Only red light is allowed for navigation in the camp. Even flashlights must be covered with a red lens.
The event has attracted as many as 650 campers. About 400 people are expected to attend this year. Online registration for the star party has closed, but Dennis said people can still show up and pay the $150 fee at the door. Meals cost extra.
The week-long event includes speakers, vendors and a swap meet. And there is plenty to do and see in the area during the daylight before the stars come out.
"We have a lot of hikers and bike riders that come," Dennis said.
During the day, campers can hike to the summit of Black Mesa, explore nearby caves, take a trip to the Capulin Volcano National Monument in New Mexico, or go birding and wildlife watching.
Deer and pronghorn are commonly seen in the area, and bears and mountain lions also reside in the area.
"There is a mother mountain lion that has her den behind the camp," Dennis said. "I have seen her a couple of times with a couple of cubs. She stays away."
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The Cosmic Cafe
Jodie Risley's regular job is director of the Cimarron Heritage Center in Boise City. But during the Okie-Tex Star Party, she operates the mess hall for the stargazers.
She has a catering business and sets up shop at Camp Billy Joe for the week to feed all the star lovers who don't bring their own groceries for the week.
"Some of them live on Rice-A-Roni or ramen noodles and soup for the week," she said.
If they opt to pay for meals, they eat like royalty for the week. Steak, brisket, chicken and hamburgers are just part of the menu. Risley brings five trailers full of food to make it through the week. All of the cooking is done on-site.
"We cook breakfast, lunch and dinner at 8, 12 and 5," Risely said. "Then starting at 9 p.m. I have a Cosmic Cafe."
The café serves up hamburgers, hot dogs, chili dogs, green chili stew, frito pie and other goodies as the campers conduct their star search during the night. The Cosmic Café stays open until 2 a.m.
And the cooking is all done under red Christmas lights.
"Your eyes get used to that," Risley said.
Risley has been the head chef since the Okie-Star Party has been held at Black Mesa. She has met visitors from Australia, Japan, China, Canada and Mexico at the event.
"They come from all walks of life," Risley said of the astronomy buffs. "From a janitor working at an Oklahoma City hospital to working for NASA."
The Okie-Tex Star Party is the biggest tourist attraction for Boise City and many of the town's stores depend on the business they get from the campers during the week, Risley said.
"I look forward to it every year," she said. "Everybody knows 'Jodie' because I am in the kitchen. We have a T-shirt this year that says, 'Come for the food and stay for the stars.'"
To learn about the Okie-Tex Star Party, go to http://okie-tex.com/.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Astronomy buffs gather at Black Mesa for Okie-Tex Star Party
