Entry No. 83 — the Oklahoma City file — filed under: after-dark

Black Mesa State Park & Nature Preserve (Dark Sky Park)

In spring 2026, Black Mesa became Oklahoma's first International Dark Sky Park, certified by DarkSky International for its exceptionally unpolluted skies out in the far panhandle near the Colorado and New Mexico lines. The remoteness that makes it a haul is exactly why the Milky Way blazes overhead here. The surrounding Kenton area also hosts the long-running Okie-Tex Star Party each fall, drawing astronomers from around the world. This is the darkest, most legitimately wild night sky the state offers.

The move: Camp at the park, then lie out on a blanket after midnight and watch the Milky Way arc edge-to-edge across some of the darkest skies in the country.

📍 Before you go It's far beyond the 180-mile band (roughly 6 hours from OKC), so treat it as a multi-day trip; best around new moon, and the Okie-Tex Star Party is a fall-only event with separate registration.

• 📍 near Kenton (Oklahoma Panhandle)
• 💸 $
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Black Mesa State Park, County Rd 325, Kenton, OK 73946

Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-23