As many of you know members of the Pontchartrain Astronomy Society, all regulars at the Deep South Star Gaze over the years did a "fact finding" star party on the 28th and 29th of May at the Feliciana Retreat Center. Our intent, at least in my mind, was to determine what differences we had in respect to dark sky conditions at FRC compared to White Horse. (I really felt that we would be able to determine that the skies we have enjoyed at the White Horse Retreat Camp are clearly better at White Horse than at Feliciana. This would put to rest any argument that we should return to the Feliciana Retreat Center due to it's advantages in other areas, namely accommodations.
We had held the Deep South Star Gaze at the Feliciana Retreat Center from the fall of 2009 thru 2017 (9 years). We left because management changed there and there were several broken promises and unacceptable conditions making the situation there difficult. After the 2018 Spring Scrimmage there we made the jump to White Horse where we enjoyed lower horizons and "possibly" darker skies. The downside to White Horse was basically in respect to accommodations. We no longer had the ability to house more than just two couples in private rooms. All other accommodations were in bunk houses, ok for guys but not couples, women and children. So our attendance has suffered. We basically went from a typical attendance of about 120 to 130 at Feliciana to about 50 to 60 at White Horse. In addition the food, while as expensive at White Horse to what we had at Feliciana, did not appeal to many attendees. Attendeesy typically did their own basic cold meals or went off site to eat.
About 7 weeks ago the new manager at Feliciana reached out to me. He, James Hilliard, has been the manager there now for 3 years and he has turned Feliciana around. Utilization is up and an initial visit demonstrated that the Feliciana Retreat Center we knew during the good years (about 2009 thru about 2014) was back. In short at our fact finding star party we were all blown away as to how well the sky tested out. In all of the 4 compass directions - north, east, south and west, the skies at Feliciana were marginally darker than at White Horse. The horizon was a bit higher due to trees but not horribly so. All things considered, Feliciana's advantages compared to White Horse, particularly the ability to attract more attendees makes it desirable for us to return there and this is not just my opinion. Feedback from the 10 attendees that stayed overnight as well as Jeff Best who visited echoes my feelings. Jeff does report that the road leading up to the observing field at Feliciana is accessible for larger and longer recreational vehicles and campers. That was not the case at White Horse.
So what do we do about White Horse? I know Carol at White Horse has been counting on us to return there this fall (in November) and she has little, if anything else going on. I have given this a lot of thought. Basically we do not have to break away completely. I feel we can utilize White Horse at other times. Carol does have the dates this coming fall for what we are calling PAS Observers Weekends. There are two of those scheduled for this fall and to soften the blow to losing the Deep South Star Gaze, we should still keep those on the books for White Horse. Those dates are: September 19th & 20th (Friday and Saturday nights) with a few nights shift if needed and October 17th & 18th (Friday and Saturday nights) with a few nights shift if needed. The advantage with this is flexibility. With little else scheduled we can shift these "Observers Weekends" by a few days, chasing good weather if you will. I know a last minute shift in dates may be hard for some but the question is then - would you rather stick with dates that will be cloudy and possibly rainy only because those are the only dates you can make it or would you, if you cannot attend, allow others the opportunity to observe on other dates because the weather is good on alternate dates?
Additionally the Deep South Star Gaze may consider doing the 2026 Spring Scrimmage at White Horse.
I do think it is highly likely that the contingent of Alabama attendees may elect to stay at White Horse and not attend the 2025 Deep South Star Gaze at Feliciana Retreat (scheduled for Tuesday November 18th to Sunday the 23rd). That is their decision. They do not stay in the bunkhouses, they stay in rv's and campers. We do have power on the field at Feliciana for those that want to bring rv's and campers with 30 amp connections as well as 20 amp connections for everyone else.
In respect to mileage for those coming from the Huntsville, AL area, the distance from there to White Horse is a 374 mile drive, typically a 5 hour and 45 minute trip. To the Feliciana Retreat Center from Huntsville is a 6 hour and 40 minute drive and the distance is 442 mile distance.
I did call Carol at White Horse to let her know that we will not be doing the Deep South Star Gaze there this fall and the reasons for that. While disappointed, Carol does understand our rationale for moving the Deep South Star Gaze to the Feliciana Retreat Center in November. (Namely because we need more private rooms for couples). As I discussed with her we still want and plan to do the Observer's Weekends at White Horse. (September 19th & 20th, Friday and Saturday nights with a few nights shift if needed and October 17th & 18th, Friday and Saturday nights with a few nights shift if needed.) As well as possibly our next spring's Deep South Spring Scrimmage. She did say she will need to evaluate the price structure and implied that prices for accommodations could be going up.
Questions? Let me know.
Barry Simon, Director
Deep South Star Gaze