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The Big Bend region of West Texas has some of the darkest skies on earth. In fact, on the Bortle dark-sky scale, this area ranks a one out of nine, with one being the darkest and nine being the brightest. That means you’d have to travel into outer space to find darker skies than West Texas has to offer! The town of Marathon is located in this region, and it’s home to the Marathon Motel & RV Park. This unique observatory motel in Texas has its very own star park, so you can gaze up at the glittering night sky during your stay.

Old-fashioned neon motel signs are few and far between these days, so it's nearly impossible to miss the Marathon Motel & RV Park.
Marathon Motel
Like a beacon of light amid the intense darkness of the West Texas desert, this unique motel welcomes both weary travelers and eager stargazers seeking a place to stay the night.
The motel features ten fully furnished, newly decorated rooms divided between four duplex cabins.
Marathon Motel
Guests can choose between a single room, double room, and an apartment with a kitchen. There is also an on-site RV park with 29 full hookup sites, and tent camping is also available.
When you aren't relaxing in your room, the beautiful, adobe-walled courtyard is where guests gather to mingle and enjoy the crisp desert air.
Marathon Motel
The courtyard is filled with native plants, a fireplace, and a fountain, and it boasts unparalleled views of the vast skies and surrounding mountains.
What truly sets this motel apart, however, is the fact that it has its very own observatory. Known as "The Skypark," this 3-acre stargazing destination allows guests to admire some of the darkest skies on earth without leaving the property.
Marathon Motel

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Amenities include Wi-Fi, three level concrete pads, and cloth barriers to prevent light intrusion.
Marathon Motel
Star parties are conducted nightly (weather permitting). They last about two hours and provide guests with the unique opportunity to gaze through large, top-quality telescopes and peer toward the heavens.
Marathon Motel
The Skypark is ideal for astrophotography, as it is located at an elevation of 4100 feet in a dry environment.
Marathon Motel
Brewster County is also the largest county in the nation with the lowest population density, and the surrounding mountains protect the park from light pollution from nearby towns. In other words, it doesn't get much more perfect than this!
Overnight guests enjoy free access to the Skypark. If you don't want to spend the night but are still interested in stargazing, the hotel charges a small fee.
Marathon Motel

Visit the Marathon Motel & RV Park website or the Marathon Motel & RV Park Facebook page for more information, including current nightly rates and availability.

Have you ever stayed at this observatory motel in Texas? If so, we’d love to hear all about your experience in the comments. Don’t forget to check out our previous article below to learn more about dark sky parks in Texas. And if you’d like to rent an RV for your trip, you can do so through RV Share.

Texas Is Home To One Of The Best Dark Sky Parks In The World

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Featured Addresses
Marathon Motel & RV Park, 701 US-90, Marathon, TX 79842, USA