Astrotourism is on the rise in Cook County, Minnesota, where stargazing has become a major draw for travelers seeking an epic view of the cosmos. Gunflint Lodge, owned by John Fredrikson and his family since 2016, has increasingly promoted its property as a prime destination for astrotourists.
"We've leaned into it," Fredrikson said, noting that astrotourism wasn't even a term back in 2016. "We attract stargazers, but now we're marketing ourselves more aggressively."
The county's annual Dark Sky Festival has seen significant growth since its inception in 2018, with Visit Cook County staff reporting a notable spike in web traffic related to the topic.
"It's really blown up in the last couple of years," said Kjersti Vick, marketing and public relations director for Visit Cook County. "People are interested in getting that experience."
Cook County's dark sky rating on the Bortle scale is an average of two, with level one being extremely dark and suitable for stargazing.
The Northland has suffered from light pollution in recent decades, but efforts to reduce it have led to a resurgence of interest in astrotourism. Bob King, also known as Astro Bob, notes that the area's relative isolation allows visitors to witness the night sky with minimal disturbance.
Smartphones and social media have made it easy for people to find and photograph phenomena like northern lights, while apps and smart telescopes can help capture stunning images of celestial objects without extensive knowledge of astronomy.
The Gunflint Lodge is acquiring a telescope for naturalists to use during planned programs, providing visitors with an immersive experience.
Experts, including NASA scientists, will be on hand at the festival, offering tips on photographing the night sky and reducing light pollution's impact on nocturnal habitats. Despite overall increases in light pollution, some local efforts have shown promise, such as the removal of streetlights from Superior Street during reconstruction, which has reduced glare.
By holding the Dark Sky Festival in December, Visit Cook County is capitalizing on the cultural significance of this time of year, coinciding with traditional celebrations that coincide with the winter solstice.
"We've leaned into it," Fredrikson said, noting that astrotourism wasn't even a term back in 2016. "We attract stargazers, but now we're marketing ourselves more aggressively."
The county's annual Dark Sky Festival has seen significant growth since its inception in 2018, with Visit Cook County staff reporting a notable spike in web traffic related to the topic.
"It's really blown up in the last couple of years," said Kjersti Vick, marketing and public relations director for Visit Cook County. "People are interested in getting that experience."
Cook County's dark sky rating on the Bortle scale is an average of two, with level one being extremely dark and suitable for stargazing.
The Northland has suffered from light pollution in recent decades, but efforts to reduce it have led to a resurgence of interest in astrotourism. Bob King, also known as Astro Bob, notes that the area's relative isolation allows visitors to witness the night sky with minimal disturbance.
Smartphones and social media have made it easy for people to find and photograph phenomena like northern lights, while apps and smart telescopes can help capture stunning images of celestial objects without extensive knowledge of astronomy.
The Gunflint Lodge is acquiring a telescope for naturalists to use during planned programs, providing visitors with an immersive experience.
Experts, including NASA scientists, will be on hand at the festival, offering tips on photographing the night sky and reducing light pollution's impact on nocturnal habitats. Despite overall increases in light pollution, some local efforts have shown promise, such as the removal of streetlights from Superior Street during reconstruction, which has reduced glare.
By holding the Dark Sky Festival in December, Visit Cook County is capitalizing on the cultural significance of this time of year, coinciding with traditional celebrations that coincide with the winter solstice.
️ It's amazing how a little bit of dark sky magic can draw people in and make them fall in love with the night sky. I think it's awesome that local businesses like Gunflint Lodge are getting on board and offering experiences that let visitors truly immerse themselves in the cosmos.
The Gunflint Lodge is killing it in promoting astrotourism & their Dark Sky Festival is really taking off 
. I mean, who wouldn't wanna escape the city lights & witness the cosmos in all its glory? It's awesome that they're partnering with NASA scientists to share their expertise & get people stargazing like pros 
. And, ya know, it's also cool how local efforts are making a difference, like reducing light pollution on Superior Street 
. The Northland's got some serious dark sky cred and I'm all for embracing that celestial magic 
I'm not surprised they're making a big deal out of astrotourism in Cook County, Minnesota... it's like they're trying to make up for the fact that their county is basically just a bunch of lakes and forests with some decent stargazing opportunities 
. I mean, sure, it's cool that people can go there to see the stars and whatnot, but let's not pretend like this is some kinda revolutionary thing... it's just stargazing, folks 
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i mean idk if its cool to travel all the way out to cook county just to look at the stars but hey if its that into you i guess its a thing now... and now gunsflint lodge is all about it even acquired a telescope lol like what's next theyre gonna start selling star-gazing packages 
. Did you know that over 30% of international visitors to the US now prioritize stargazing as a major part of their travel experience? 
They're willing to pay up to $1k+ for a single night's stay at a resort with minimal light pollution 
On the other hand, did you know that the Bortle scale only goes up to 9? 
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the northland has been struggling with light pollution for ages, and now they're just trying to capitalize on it? i mean, i guess if you're into stargazing that's cool, but for me, it's just a bunch of people driving out to some woods in the middle of nowhere