The Family Adventure Guide - Issue 43 -2025 - Magazine - Page 8
KISSIMMEE PRAIRIE
PRESERVE STATE PARK – OKEECHOBEE
BY BRENDA FERRARI
FLORIDA’S FIRST
INTERNATIONAL DARK
SKY PARK
Nestled deep in the heart of central Florida, Kissimmee
Prairie Preserve State Park in Okeechobee is a celestial
sanctuary for stargazers and nature lovers alike.
Spanning over 54,000 acres of protected dry prairie, this
remote park offers one of the darkest and most pristine
night skies in the southeastern United States. In fact, it
was designated Florida’s first International Dark Sky
Park in 2016, a recognition that underscores its
exceptional conditions for astronomical observation.
Far removed from urban light pollution, the park’s
expansive horizons and minimal artificial lighting create
an ideal canvas for viewing stars, planets, and even the
ethereal glow of the Milky Way. Visitors often reserve
one of the park’s astronomy pad campsites, specially
designed for telescope users, where red-spectrum
lighting is required and campfires are prohibited to
preserve night vision and protect the view.
THE FAMILY ADVENTURE GUIDE- FLORIDA EDITION
08 | 2025 Issue 43
