Star on the Mountain

Star on the Mountain

Stay Connected with the Chamber
August 22, 2023 – September 14, 2023 Starlighters

The star is being lit by Your proud family. In honor of Oscar Acosta. Congratulations #2361. 20 Years, EPPD.

August 22, 2023

The star is being lit by Fortalessa. In honor of Enrique Suárez y Toriello. Gracias por tus enseñanzas y legado.

August 23, 2023

The star is being lit by RoseAnna, Ruben, Frank, Pat. In loving memory of Celia Mendoza Franco. Mom, you are still BRIGHT, in our hearts!

August 24, 2023

The star is being lit by the Paz family. In loving memory of Elvira and Memo Aguirre. Good memories of our mother and brother❤

August 27, 2023

The star is being lit by Consultores Tribut de Negocios. In honor of Socios y personal de Moore México, S.C. Felicidades y éxitos!!!

August 31, 2023

The star is being lit by Irma. In loving memory of Salvador Berroteran. Missing you dad.

September 2, 2023

The star is being lit by PdNHF & PdNCF. In honor of The Meadows Foundation. Congratulations on your 75th Anniversary.

September 9, 2023

The Star is being lit by Pam, Mike and Jen Syvertsen. In loving memory of Richard Syvertsen. Our Daddy and Grandpa’s 100th Birthday.

September 10, 2023

The star is being lit by El Paso Health. In loving memory of Maria Rosela Baca.”And Ms. Emma Baca. We Love You both!”

September 10, 2023

The Star is being lit by Familia Soto-Paz. In loving memory of Raul Paz. Siempre estas en nuestros❤️te queremos mucho.

September 11, 2023

The Star is being lit by Ft Bliss/McGregor Aid Station. In honor of 7402nd TMC. In commemoration of mission completion.

September 13, 2023

The Star is being lit by the Texas Tech Alumni Association. In honor of Texas Tech Alumni Association- El Paso. Celebrating the El Paso Chapter Relaunch.

September 14, 2023
Submit a Starlighter Request

Starlighter requests will be closed until October 20th.

If you’ve always wanted to light the Star on the Mountain in El Paso in honor of a loved one’s accomplishments or memory, submit a starlighter request. The cost is $50 for a lighting and certificate. Additional certificates may be purchased for $10. Star lighter announcements will be in the Sunday El Paso Times the week following your lighting. Please note that the El Paso Times listing is done as a courtesy and is not a guarantee. Please submit a request at least 7 days in advance. Multiple lightings announcements may occur on the same day.

Donate to the Star on the Mountain

Submit a Starlighter Request

History of the
Star on the Mountain

The El Paso Electric Company built the first star on the south side of the Franklin Mountains in 1940. At the time it was only 50 feet wide and could barely be seen on the Carlsbad Highway. It also did not last long; a storm blew out most of the bulbs.

Soon after, another star was built bigger and better. It was 403 feet long, 300 feet wide and used 300 light bulbs. More improvements were made in 1946: the length was increased to 492 feet, the width reduced to 278 feet and 492 light bulbs were used. It was then that lighting the “Star on the Mountain” became an El Paso tradition during the Christmas season.

Today the Star has the same dimensions as in 1946. It sits at an angle of 30 degrees and appears to be “perfect” at its focal point at the intersection of Texas and Alameda Avenues. The poles are staggered up and down the mountain for a distance of 459 feet; starting at the mountain top, and run down to a point about 200 feet above Scenic Drive. From its lofty height, the Star may be seen from the east for 100 miles from the air and some 30 miles from the ground. Pilots are known to use the Star as an orientation point.

There are approximately 30 streamers that are hooked onto guy wire cables forming the Star and are pulled into position. Despite some schedule changes, such as during the energy crisis in the ’70s, the star has been lit each and every year since World War II.

In 1980 the Star remained lit for 444 days (until January 21, 1981) during the Iran hostage crisis. In 1990, during the Gulf War, the Star once again remained lit (until August 21, 1991) in support of Fort Bliss and all U.S. troops stationed with Operation Desert Storm.

Through the efforts of the El Paso Chamber and support from private citizens, businesses, and community organizations, the Star on the Mountain now shines bright each and every night at dusk. El Paso is proud of its new image of the ”Star City” in the Lone Star State.