The Palmer Lake Christmas Star on Sundance Mountain has been part of the local landscape for the better part of the 20th century.

The five-pointed star, measuring 500 feet across and consisting of 91, 40-watt non-glare bulbs, is lighted for the month of December and on other special occasions such as the release of the hostages in Iran and the end of Desert Storm.

The star dates back to 1934, when several members of Palmer Lake came up with the idea. Construction on the project was a community effort.

 

The property on Sundance Mountain where the star was erected was owned by Art and Reba Bradley, who donated the property to Palmer Lake in 1966. When Mrs. Bradley died in 1979, part of her estate was left to the Palmer Lake Fire Department for the maintenance of the star. In 1976, the star was completely rebuilt with new cable and steel pole in concrete as part of a bicentennial project.

The star has become a symbol of hope and inspiration to the many motorists who pass by on I-25 and the planes that fly close enough to see it.