Potawatomi Wildlife Park’s Dark Sky!
At Potawatomi Wildlife Park we dare to say we are the best place to sit under the stars in Indiana. Potawatomi was recognized as Indiana's first Dark-Sky Preserve by the Indiana Council on Lighting Education (ICOLE), The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), and the Indiana State Senate (Resolution #7, 3/31/03). But what is a dark sky? It is a place where the darkness of the night sky is relatively free of interference from artificial light. We have visitors come from Indianapolis, Michigan, Chicago, and surrounding counties just to observe major sightings and take pictures of the night sky. If you or your family are interested in learning more about stars, we have an amazing local club that utilizes our observation field regularly. You can check them out on Facebook under "Warsaw Astronomical Society of Indiana." So whether you are hoping to observe a major sighting, planning a romantic date under the stars, or need a simple family evening activity, we are the place for you!
The park is only open sunrise to sunset. How do I request access to use the observation Field & dark sky outside normal park hours?
Send email to - potawatomiwildlifepark@gmail.com with the following information
(1) Name
(2) Phone number
(3) Address
(4) Date of Use
(5) Time of use
(6) Type of Vehicle
When is a good time to visit?
That is a good question and can change minute by minute based on weather, cloud coverage, moon phases and so much more.
Here are a few sites we recommend checking out to decide based on your personal availability date and time.
To check sky conditions (Clouds & smoke) Clear Sky’s website.
To Check (stars, moon, planets) Stellarium website or phone app *Put park location in search bar
To Check planet rise and set times, viewing conditions and moon information Night Sky Tonight
BEST RECOMMENDATION: Attend a Public Stargazing Night!
During the spring, fall and winter, Potawatomi Wildlife Park hosts Public Stargazing Nights. Local astronomy clubs bring their telescopes and lasers to help orient visitors to the night sky, point out planets, stars and constellations, and give guests the opportunity to look through their telescopes.
These astronomy enthusiasts love sharing their knowledge, equipment and passion for the night sky with our community. It's a wonderful opportunity to learn, ask questions and experience things you may not be able to see with the naked eye!
Most public viewing events take place in the spring, fall and winter when darkness arrives earlier in the evening. We also host one summer stargazing night in July, typically on a Friday. Be prepared to stay up late, as summer viewing often doesn't get underway until midnight or even 1:00 AM.
Check our https://www.potawatomiwildlifepark.com/events for upcoming Public Stargazing Nights and join us under the stars!
What should I bring?
A blanket as nights tend to be cooler
A comfortable lawn chair so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy looking up at the night sky.
A pair of binoculars - See why
A telescope if you have one, but encourage you to just start with binoculars
What else do I need to know?
There is no fee to visit the Observation Field. We do ask that all visitors check in either online or using one of the check-in boxes located at the trail entrance and in the Observation Field. This helps us keep track of how many people are enjoying and utilizing this unique area of the park.
A few things to know before your visit:
Restrooms at the Visitor Center will be open during your visit.
Please help us protect everyone’s night vision by keeping vehicle lights as dim as possible and using running lights when you can.
Please limit cell phone use and bright screens while in the Observation Field.
We do have cameras on property please be respectful
If you need a flashlight, we highly recommend using a red-light flashlight. Red light helps preserve your night vision and allows your eyes to stay better adjusted to the darkness. Why the red light? https://www.nps.gov/articles/dark-adaptation-of-the-human-eye-and-the-value-of-red-flashlights.htm
While there is no fee to visit, Potawatomi Wildlife Park is a nonprofit park supported by donations. If you would like to help support the park and keep opportunities like our Dark Sky Observation Field available to the community, you can donate here:
https://www.potawatomiwildlifepark.com/donate
We hope you have a wonderful visit!
And remember—it is DARK out there, and it’s supposed to be that way! :)
Lacey Pfeiffer, Park Manager
How do I locate the park’s observation field in the dark?
Here is our address - 16998 State Road 331 Tippecanoe, IN 46570 (Sometimes GPS systems take you to a housing development on the other side of the river)
BEST, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED YOU USE GPS Coordinates: 41.230856, -86.105364 (This will take you to the visitor center parking lot where bathrooms are located)
Visitors may park in the Visitor Center parking lot and walk to the Observation Field.
With approval from the Park Manager, visitors may also drive into the Observation Field, provided there are no scheduling conflicts with event setup and ground conditions are suitable. Vehicles are not permitted when the ground is soft or saturated from heavy rain or snow. The Observation Field is grass-covered to help minimize dust that could interfere with telescopes and equipment. Protecting the field and ensuring safe driving conditions are important considerations when approving vehicle access. There are also three concrete telescope pads with electrical hookups available for use if needed.
Please refer to the maps below for directions from the Visitor Center parking lot to the Observation Field. Reminder it is dark and no flashing lights to show you directions. The exact coordinates of the observation field is 41.232047, -86.106264 which can be entered into GPS AFTER you have arrived to the visitor center. It’s not far, Its just dark.
Additional Potawatomi Wildlife Park Dark Sky Information
Preserve Location
Rurally located in north central Indiana and centered between four local small cities/towns with Warsaw 20 miles to the east, Plymouth approximately the same distance to the west, Rochester to the south and Bremen the same distance to the north and farther yet South Bend/Mishawaka to the north of Bremen, Potawatomi Wildlife Park is uniquely positioned to offer relatively dark skies for the region. Classified as Class 4-4.5 (Rural/suburban transition) skies utilizing the Bortle classification, the faintest seeing on an excellent night is between 6th and 7th magnitude.
Preserve Description
Comprised of 300+ acres of upland woods, wetland areas and river bottom, and surrounded by farm land, the property is a not-for-profit nature park managed as a wildlife refuge. Potawatomi Wildlife Park is open dawn to dusk year round with the exception of youth group camping on the property and amateur astronomers observing after dark. Because of the lack of individual campers, the property is optimal for observing at night lacking such intrusions as vehicle headlights, campfires, and other light sources that would interfere with night vision adaptation.
Park/Preserve Facilities
The current observing field is north of the main parking lot and is accessible to vehicles pending ground conditions for those who run power from their vehicles. Electrical outlets are available in the main parking lot located south of the observing site for those who need it. General park attendance is mainly from individuals, and groups such as schools that visit the property. Facilities include restrooms adjacent to the parking/observing area which includes a pop machine and drinking fountain, a small nature center, amphitheater, and a small fire ring pavilion.
Development of the Dark Sky Preserve
The previous Executive Director of Potawatomi Wildlife Park, being a member of the Warsaw Astronomical Society, saw an opportunity in the mid 1990's to take advantage of the park's perceived dark viewing situation and invited members of the local Warsaw club to utilize the property for dark sky observing secessions. With the site of the Warsaw clubs' observatory suffering from major light pollution, the society formed a "new moon group" and made the park the site for their dark sky observing sessions.
The management of the park, seeing the value of the observing opportunities and with the support of the governing board of directors, made steps to manage the property as a "dark sky preserve". To make the property observer friendly, all barn yard style security lights were removed early on. Other steps were also taken to make the property more dark sky friendly. The property is recognized as Indiana's first Dark-Sky Preserve by the Indiana Council on Lighting Education (ICOLE), The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), and the Indiana State Senate (Resolution #7, 3/31/03). No current county ordinance exists to address light pollution. The park is managed as a DSP through internal management policies.
Current Lighting Conditions on the Property
Currently the only public dawn to dusk lighting that exists on the property is fully shielded in the case of one Regency brand model RSM100 security fixture lighting the restroom area. Soffit lighting also exist, lighting the one sidewalk leading to the nature center with minimum wattage lighting. A memorial containing three flag poles is lit with two narrow spot lights that has a dimmer switch in-line to produce only adequate lighting to illuminate the flags but not light the sky.
In the case of the flag memorial, the Regency security light, and the sofit sidewalk lighting, a breaker panel is mounted at the flag pole memorial that trips all outside lighting when observing is conducted making the observing site 100% free of all outside lighting. This is done only during winter observing secessions as the outline observing field is far enough away from the parking lot that the minimal lighting is not a factor.
A fire-ring facility also has a Glare-buster and a shielded light under the small adjoining shelter. All future development plans for additional buildings call for "dark sky" friendly lighting mainly in the form of sofit lighting.
Commitment to Light Pollution Prevention on the Property
In a past vote, the Board of Directors of Potawatomi Wildlife Park voted to continue the management of the property as a "dark sky preserve" committing to the continuation of steps to preserve the night time ascetics of the property as well as encouraging the utilization of the property by amateur astronomers
Who is Observing at the Park
To date, the property has been utilized by members of the Warsaw Astronomical society, Michiana Astronomical Society, Wabash Valley Astronomical Society, Calumet Astronomical Society, Ft. Wayne Astronomical Society, Chicago Astronomical Society, local hobbyist, and high school astronomy classes. Additional inquiries have been made by individuals from both inside Indiana as well as surrounding states.