Providing in-person learning opportunities and information on the weather, science, and nature of the scenic skies of Lake City, Colorado. 

About our Founder

Lake City Skies is a community organization born from a passion from our Founder, Phillip Virden.

Phillip Virden became interested in astronomy in his hometown of Garland Texas. At the age of four, his two brothers showed him Mars through the family telescope.  That tiny red dot inspired Virden to learn more about the night sky.  Virden’s sixth grade teacher was instrumental in taking his interest to a new level by bringing in a television to the classroom to witness the dramatic launches of the historic Mercury spacecraft missions in the early 1960s.  That same teacher took his class for a memorable visit to the planetarium at St Marks school in Dallas.   

In 1973, Virden moved to Lake City, Colorado.   While camping, Virden looked up to see, for the first time, the spectacular Milky Way galaxy.   “It was like being at that planetarium at St Marks; only 100 times better!”, remarked Virden.  That same year, Virden was amazed to see the clear and spectacular deep purple/blue of the Lake City daytime autumn sky.   

Since that time, Virden’s interest in the weather and astronomy evolved on a regular basis as noted by the following:

• He has been National Weather Service cooperative observer for Lake City for 35 years.

• He writes Skywatch, an information article on Lake City’s weather and night sky. Skywatch appeared regularly in the Lake City Journal and Silver World Newspaper. Today, Skywatch appears on Facebook and on the Lake Fork Valley Conservancy’s webpage.

• Virden has taught basic astronomy courses for people of all ages – from Elderhostel senior citizens to kindergarten to 12th grade students; from a summer course at Western State to outreach programs for the public.

• He has organized many stargazing events in Lake City and at Curecanti Recreation area.

• He has served on astronomy committees for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, for the Gunnison Valley Observatory, and for Colorado Stargazing.

• He has worked with the University of Colorado to acquire a portable planetarium for the Lake City Community School.

• He has worked with the Lake Fork Valley Conservancy (LFVC) to successfully have the Conservancy’s Slumgullion Center be designated a Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA). He currently serves as Dark Sky Coordinator for LFVC. He is actively supporting dark sky initiatives in communities on both sides of the Continental Divide.

• He is a member of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, the Black Canyon Astronomical Society, and the International Dark Sky Association.