Colorado is rich in Western traditions, some of which began in the state's earliest days. Several stars atop mesas and mountains around the Centennial State are shining examples of these long-standing traditions.

The Star of Castle Rock

The iconic Star of Castle Rock was constructed as a form of hope during the tough times of the Great Depression. When it was first built on top of the rock in 1936, the goal of the star was to get travelers on I-25 to stop in Castle Rock.

The Star was funded by the Town Council and George P. Stewart donated the land where it was built. Castle Rock's first Fire Department volunteered to daringly cart the construction materials up the Rock. The Castle Rock Motor Co. provided the gas for welding and William Sloan, the owner of Schweiger Motor Co., did much of the design and welding. Mountain States Telephone donated used electrical wire for the five-pointed project. There are 100 total bulbs in The Star.

Castle Rock Fire and Rescue is responsible for maintaining the town's star. It's powered by CORE Electric Cooperative, at no cost to the town. A festive starlighting celebration is held annually on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The night is capped off with a fireworks show centered around Star.  After that initial celebratory lighting, The Star lights up each night by a sensor, about the time the sun sets. It turns off for the season at the end of the National Western Stock Show in January.

There have only been a few times since the late '30s that Castle Rock's Star has not shined its traditional white lights. After the end of World War II, The Star was illuminated with a "V" for victory. In 1998 and 2014, CR's Star was lit blue and orange to celebrate the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl. Most recently The Star was lit as a symbol of hope during the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a reminder that Castle Rock is a strong and united community that will persevere.

The Star of Palmer Lake

Another enormous star can be found on the face of Sundance Mountain in the town of Palmer Lake, Colorado. Like the star in Castle Rock, this one also popped up during the Great Depression era.

In the summer of 1935, the regional manager of Mountain Utilities, E.B. Jack visualized building a giant star on Sundance Mountain that would be noticeable for miles. At the time, many people were passing through Palmer Lake on their way to Denver or Colorado Springs.

Besides being a local landmark, E.B. Jack felt the star would be Palmer Lake’s bright contribution to many future holiday seasons.

Word of the star spread quickly around town, and many of Palmer Lake's residents even offered to help build it. Mountain Utilities contributed used poles and cable for this worthwhile project. The impressive 500-foot star was constructed by hand, without the use of power tools. The conditions on top of Sundance Mountain made getting materials there difficult, especially during the heat of the summer. By the end of the fall, a majority of the project was complete. So, starting in that winter of 1935 the star in Palmer Lake is now lit each year from December 1 until January 1.

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The star is also illuminated on Memorial Day weekend and Veterans Day. Except for the WWII years, the Star of Palmer Lake, which is also called the Star of Bethlehem, has shined brightly since 1935.

In the early years, the city paid for the electricity until December 15, and then Mountain Utilities stepped in to donate for the rest of the month. In 1937 the Palmer Lake Volunteer Fire Department became custodian of the star while the city contributed financial support. Today, the custody and maintenance of the star still rests with the Volunteer Fire Department. Funds to maintain the star are partly raised at a widely attended annual “Chili Supper” hosted by the PLVFD. The pointed structure has undergone several renovation projects over time to keep it in top condition.

The Boulder Star

A third star can be found on the face of Flagstaff Mountain in Boulder. The beloved Boulder Star was first lit in December 1947 as a Christmas decoration. It was so popular during the holiday season that year, that in the following spring, the Boulder Chamber lit it up again at Easter - however, this time the 350-plus bulbs glowed in the form of a cross. It continued to alternate between the cross and the star for almost two decades. In 1970, complaints were filed about the cross violating the U.S. Constitution’s separation of church and state, so Boulder City Council resolved the issue by banning all lighted displays on Flagstaff Mountain, including the cross.

In addition to the holiday season, the Boulder Star is also lit to commemorate Veterans Day. The city has turned on the star during tragic events, like the Marshall Fire or the pandemic. In 1980, it was left on month after month as a reminder of the Americans held hostage in Iran.

Unfortunately, the gigantic fixture has been subject to quite a bit of vandalism over the years. In the 1950s, pranksters from nearby colleges reconfigured the shape of the star to their respective schools' initials. The bulbs were also painted red three separate times, which was speculated to be part of a communist conspiracy stunt. In 1969, hippies changed the shape of the star into a peace sign...because Boulder. 

Today, the historic star on Flagstaff Mountain remains an important symbol for the people of Boulder. It represents a sense of community and serves as a shining light that towers over the city.