StarDate Online

The StarDate Cafe offers various freshly prepared hot & cold sandwiches as well as various snacks, cold drinks, coffee, hot chocolate, etc. There are many restaurants in Fort Davis offering a reasonably wide variety of food. There are several roadside picnic tables nearby on Hwy 118 (two towards Fort Davis, about 1/2 mile and 2 miles, and another about 1/2 mile towards Kent.) A very nice picnic area, called the Lawrence E. Wood Roadside Rest Area, is about 8 miles northwest of McDonald towards Kent along Hwy 118. Are there RV hook-ups and/or camping facilities at the Observatory? The Observatory is a University of Texas research facility and is not associated with the State/National Park systems. Overnight camping/RVing on Observatory grounds is NOT permitted. Please check the official Fort Davis website for a list of area accommodations. How far in advance do I need to make reservations for a private program? Private programs must be arranged at least 45 days prior to the date you are requesting. Can large groups join the regular public programs? Groups are more than welcome to join us for any of our programs. Making online reservations is the best way to ensure your group's participation. On occasion, we can offer private activities that may better suit your group's needs.