Starlighters
Submit a Starlighter Request
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.
Disclaimer
The Star on the Mountain is lit from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Mountain Time (MT)
Please note that the illumination of the Star on Franklin Mountain may be subject to disruption or variations in color due to technical difficulties, network issues, or weather conditions. While we strive to ensure the star remains lit as scheduled and in the requested color, these factors are beyond our control.
No refunds will be issued in the event of any disruptions or variations in the star's display. If your starlighting is impacted by these issues, please contact us at 915-534-0500 or email us at epc@elpaso.org. We are committed to doing our due diligence to ensure that the star is illuminated according to your request. Thank you for your understanding.
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.