Texas Tech announces opening of new 3 Rivers Ranch astronomy facility
The opening ceremony for the new Texas Tech astronomy facility at 3 Rivers Ranch was held Thursday, October 3 in Foard County.
The 3 Rivers Ranch is situated along Ranch Road 654, which bisects the ranch, dividing it into two tracts: one containing approximately 1,500 acres and the other containing roughly 4,500 acres located about 16 miles west of Crowell.
The assembled group of local dignitaries and business people were addressed by the Chancellor of Texas Tech Dr. Tedd L. Mitchell and University dignitaries along with local attorney Don Ross Malone who was responsible for the legal aspects of transferring this enormous Ranch from the 3 Rivers Foundation to the ownership of Texas Tech University. They described the new facility and explained how it came to be.
Following the opening ceremonies, lunch was provided and then visitors were invited to tour to all the ranch’s facilities including its enormous state of the art telescope system. Visitors were also given an opportunity to personally meet with the Chancellor and his staff to ask any questions we had about the facility.
The Texas Tech University System recently received the 6,000 acre 3 Rivers Ranch and its associated Comanche Springs astronomy campus, complete with several telescopes, thanks to a generous donation from Fred Koch and the 3 Rivers Foundation for the Arts and Sciences. This site provides an incredible combination of dark skies and relative proximity to the cities of the northern part of Texas which makes it an ideal place for public telescope viewing sessions. Prior to its acquisition by the Texas Tech University System, it hosted nearly monthly star parties for the general public, free of charge, and the Department of Physics & Astronomy and College of Arts & Sciences at Texas Tech University, along with Angelo State University are proud to be continuing this tradition.
Three Rivers Ranch will host a public star party on November 2, which will allow attendees to view through the site’s main feature telescopes. Hosted by the Texas Tech University Astronomy & Physics department and Angelo State University, the plan is to offer an evening speaker at all events prior to orientation. An orientation will begin at 7:30 p.m. near the large dome and a star party will follow for a two-hour period beginning at 8 p.m. The site offers overnight lodging via cabin or bunkhouse, RV spots and tent camping areas. The site also has a restroom and shower facility for attendees to use. Attendance at the star party is free and open to the general public, but overnight stays can be reserved for a fee until the accommodations fill up. More information for the site can be found at https://www.texastech.edu/3-rivers-ranch/index.php
Texas Tech Staff and friends who made the acquisition of the Three Rivers Ranch possible. From left, Patrick Kramer, Ginger Kerrick-Davis, Tedd Mitchell, Clay Cash, Don Rodd Malone, Ken Fergeson, Robert England, Cady Alvarado and Jerry Gardner.
Charles Ashley/Vernon Record
