Palmer Lake Star
El Paso County
The Palmer Lake Star sits on a 1.5-acre site on Sundance Mountain. The mountainside, which has a 58 percent slope, provides the ideal location to provide maximum exposure for the five-point star. Thirty galvanized steel posts hold the electrical wiring, the 91, 40-watt light bulbs light bulbs, support cables, and connectors. Depending on the terrain, the posts range from 3 feet to 8 feet tall. The star, built over a three month period, was initially designed using surveyor transits and measuring devices. Once complete, it did not appear as a symmetric five-point star when viewed from a distance, instead it had a somewhat oblong appearance.
Palmer Lake Star
The builders discovered that altering the height of the bulbs helped to provide the appearance of straight lines. Although there were alterations in 2002, the appearance of the star is the effectively the same since construction. The material changes are in keeping with nature of a structure that requires maintenance to ensure longevity and meet electrical codes. The Palmer Lake Star is eligible at the local level in the area of geography /community identity for the period of 1935-1976. This site is a focal point within the community of Palmer Lake and has become the most identifiable landmark for those inside and outside of the town. It has served as the distinctive holiday season feature identified with Palmer Lake since 1935.