In a move that proves even airports can have a glow-down for the greater good, Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) has officially become the first DarkSky-certified airport in the world. That’s right, while other airports are busy installing brighter LED billboards and runway disco lights, JAC is out here dimming the bulbs so we can all enjoy a nice, pitch-black view of the Milky Way while waiting for our delayed flight.
How did they pull this off? By replacing more than 250 outdoor light fixtures, creating a lighting master plan (yes, that’s a thing), and even shutting down terminal monitors overnight. No word on whether they’ll dim the jet engines next, but hey, we’re on a roll.
This is more than a PR stunt with a dimmer switch. JAC had to work hand-in-hand with Grand Teton National Park, the FAA, and actual astrophysicists (probably) to make sure the skies above Jackson stay starry, not star-washed. According to Board President Rob Wallace, this certification is a “landmark designation,” which is code for: “Take that, LAX.”
In a place where the moose roam free, the locals sleep by 9, and the constellations are clearer than your Uber rating, this feels like a fitting flex. Jackson Hole: home of the only airport where the stars on the ground have to compete with the ones overhead.
Next up: a TSA line that moves faster than a glacier. One miracle at a time.
AntlersArch founder and the voice behind Teton Tattle.
