Riverside Club's Observing Site at Landers

Riverside has a site out in the desert near 29 Palms and Josiah Tree National Monument. It is mostly a gift. It is in a subdivision, with a small simple house, and was traded for bare land. At five flat acres it is one of the smallest sites. Here is what I have extracted from their web site and newsletters. http://www.rivastro.org/ras_landers.html

Ten “licensees” have paid to build the first ten pads (and the related electrical system), and will be using them (? years). Owners always have first “dibs” on their use. On any night, including star parties, the pad will remain vacant and available for occupancy by the licensee until sunset.

If the licensee hasn’t called, and it is after sunset, then any club member can use the pad for that evening only. A licensee can also directly authorize a fellow member, or a guest, to use his or her pad. The electrical outlets on the power posts are understood to be there to benefit the pad licensees. Any “borrowing” of an outlet must occur with the agreement of the pad licensees - to just plug in without asking is not good manners. The parking spaces immediately north of the pads are for the use of the pad licensees only. Please respect the right of a pad licensee to be able to back up to his or her pad and unload their equipment.

The RAS has recently installed “public” power posts on the observing field. These are available for any member or guest to use for telescopes and/or computers. The observing field is free for anyone (public included) to use. It is open to the public at all time (with no support services). An RV parking area is to the front of the property and a tent camping area is in the back (behind observing field).

Six people have paid to build roll–off roof observatories and have exclusive use of them. It is unclear what the financial and redevelopment connections are between these and the club.

The club has generated over $40,000 in equipment donations for its public programs and this site is used as a part of its public outreach. There have been regular barn–building activities at the site and the community spirit seems strong. It is about a 90 minute drive and has fairly dark skies and good seeing. Significant neighbors though! The site has been build–out in less than 5 years.

The financial model - Major donor, a dozen significant improvement donors. More than a dozen significant private equity investors. Site maintained by club dues ($40/yr.).