Diana Davidson was enjoying a roadtrip around the southwest with her husband Rick Reeb in 2007 when they serendipitously stopped for dinner on the Main Street in Bluff after a day on the San Juan with Wild Rivers. The western-style restaurant featured an open courtyard for dining with a huge cottonwood tree spreading from the center. As they dined, they noted the steady stream of customers and how busy the restaurant seemed for the rural setting; Diana recalls that, at the time, Bluff’s streets were still unpaved. Before leaving, the couple happened to notice a sign posted stating the owner was looking to sell Cottonwood Steakhouse and retire. Thinking little of it, they concluded their trip a few days later and returned to their corporate jobs and urban life in Philadelphia. But an idea had been planted during their awestruck trip through the region, and it soon led to a big change for the two.
Our Education Specialist Carolyn Harmon sat down with Diana Davidson to learn more about this recent chapter in the town’s – and her own – history.
How long have you lived in Bluff? What roles have you played in this community?
After our visit in 2007, we noticed that our corporate lives were less shiny. So we made a call, purchased Cottonwood Steakhouse, and moved to town! We owned and operated the restaurant for 15 years. The restaurant was generally open April through October each year, because we had to get back to Philly to rake the leaves before the snow. It’s a whole big thing. But, back in Bluff, after closing the restaurant each night and taking the trash out, I’d notice the Milky Way overhead. Just there! In the alley above my dumpster! I’d never seen it before, and knew so little about the stars except the Big Dipper maybe. I was fascinated that I could see them so clearly and brightly every night, that anyone could do the same here – that was the beginning of my journey as a Dark Sky advocate.
In addition to being a business owner, I have held a couple roles within the Business Owners of Bluff (BOB), our Chamber of Commerce. I was the secretary, my husband was the president. I’m currently the marketing director. I’m a property owner in Bluff. And now I’m a Dark Sky Ambassador for Bears Ears Partnership!
How long have you been interested in dark skies? How did you get involved in star gazing, and dark sky advocacy?
I never really paid attention to the stars before moving here. I knew one or two constellations. There was the Milky Way each night here in Bluff which I thought was splendid but that was it really. When we were getting ready to sell the restaurant, there was an outdoor lighting ordinance which stated the property had to become Dark Sky compliant to sell it, for the business permit. Because of the courtyard for dining, which had lots of lighting, it required research on our part and ultimately we hired an engineer to figure it out. The lighting changes were significant – they cost about as much as a Viking Cruise! – without reimbursement or remuneration. We weren’t too happy about that. I felt that Bluff already had dark skies and lighting wasn’t impeding it. What I’ve since come to understand is that our sky isn’t just dark, it’s magnificent. The dark sky ordinance protects that and indicates that we recognize it. So, I’ve seen it from all angles. Ultimately, I contributed to the Dark Sky application for Bluff and have become really interested in astrophotography and building astrotourism opportunities here for our community’s businesses. Now I travel to Dark Sky events or Astro Festivals, I have a SeeStar telescope, and I’ve been to astrophotography workshops in places like Jackson Hole and Hovenweep and even right here in San Juan County with Lane Palmer.
Do any moments stand out to you from your involvement in dark sky advocacy, or while star gazing?
Sarah Burak points out dark sky objects with a laser pointer for a group of dark sky enthusiasts at a Star Party in Bluff this summer.Learning about astronomy has been a release for me, cathartic compared to focusing on current events. This area has always made me feel small, and my problems are small, when you think about the legacies here – the human history, the changing environment, the geology, the paleontology – and you think about space and infinity… I think, “I’m just a speck.” Your problems and concerns are not as looming or large as you thought before looking up.
I’ve been to Grand Canyon National Park’s Astrofest twice, I’ve dragged Rick to Jackson Hole for an astrophotography workshop, and these were all terrific events in beautiful places but what I noticed was, their skies are no better than ours in Bluff. I believe one of the reasons is that our southern exposure here is largely unaffected by light interference, since it’s the Navajo Nation. Grand Canyon and Jackson Hole can’t say the same, as far as neighboring light interference! With our elevation and cloudless nights, limited precipitation and low humidity, we’re just terrific! We’re a part of this whole dark sky corridor in San Juan County with neighboring dark sky parks, and that’s been a significant realization for me.
What do you love about the culture around dark skies in the Four Corners region?
I love the multicultural perspectives that exist here. The Navajo have a very rich cultural history relating to the skies. Last year’s Bluff Dark Sky Festival included experts in Navajo constellations, which was our best attended night. People are very interested in Indigenous cosmology or archaeastronomy. It abounds here in Bluff and upon the local landscape, where we’re a cultural crossroads of sorts. That being said, these cultural traditions are not our histories, we need to be respectful and conscious of that - hearing them from the source (rather than retelling them ourselves) is the best means of including and honoring these perspectives.
What’s been your involvement with Bluff’s dark sky designation, and ongoing dark sky activities/protection?
In addition to contributing to the application, which I have to applaud BEP’s [Senior Education Director] Sarah Burak for creating so masterfully, now through BOB I work with the hotels to find ways they can include dark sky-related activities or offerings in their on-site amenities. Maybe a sky garden like La Posada has, or a sign with seasonal constellations for guests to find in the night sky, or a basket of stargazing tools available in a lobby. Also, the festival! Organizing the first Bluff Dark Sky Festival in 2025 to celebrate the new designation, and now continuing this as an annual event for Bluff. We choose November so that we can include the Indigenous cultural histories and extend the fall tourism season.
Why is this Dark Sky Festival important – to the town, the region, and dark skies in general?
The thing that sets Bluff apart is we bring in Indigenous and Western astronomy side by side. Our festival is in the fall, our location is unique, and our attendees are diverse. We had a lot of participation from local Native residents, especially on the Indigenous night. What you’re doing – BEP’s outreach in the schools is increasing the interest and conversation about dark skies. Children are coming with their families and mentioning what they’ve learned at school or from BEP’s star party events. Multicultural attendance was noticeable at the dark sky festival. Dark skies are inclusive by nature. We had quite a bit of attendance from foreign travelers, too. A German family won our scavenger hunt last year!
What are your hopes for dark skies in Bluff and beyond?
I’m hopeful that more people traveling through–or to–this area will become aware of this beautiful night sky that we have. This beautiful event happens like clockwork every night! It exists for everyone’s enjoyment. There is no cost barrier, few accessibility limitations – and it’s here in Bluff every night, included in your visit. What a destination! We hope that in Bluff we can facilitate this awareness and excitement and enjoyment, as much as folks coming to see other area attractions. Astrotourism isn’t my favorite word. It doesn’t include the depth of feeling that the night skies inspire. It’s jargon. What we have here is awe and attachment, and I look forward to more people coming here for that experience specifically.
Learn more about BEP’s Dark Sky Program and how you can become a Dark Sky Ambassador on the Dark Sky Program page.
Check out our Events page for the next Star Party and more information about the Dark Sky Festival.