Off Shore Muse

The Roanoke Star

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Mill Mountain

2000 Fishburn Parkway SE

Roanoke, Virginia

At 8:22 p.m. on November 23, 1949 on a chilly Thanksgiving Eve Roanoke Mayor, A R. Minton threw a switch and illuminated the Roanoke Star for the first time. At that moment, Roanoke earned the nickname, "Star of the South" and the star has been a part of the landscape of Mill Mountain ever since.

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Why was the "Star" constructed in the first place? The purpose for erecting the star was to serve as a seasonal, Christmas decoration to shine over the city during the brisk holiday shopping season of 1949. The project was sponsored by the Roanoke Merchants Association. The original plan was to dismantle the star when the holiday season ended. John Payne, a Roanoke native and, at the time, a Hollywood leading man came to Roanoke to add his celebrity status to the formal lighting ceremony. Less than 100 braved the cold night to stand under the star as it was switched on. Payne had made the movie, Miracle on 34th Street in 1947 prior to the visit to his hometown.

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John Payne with Edmund Gwenn and Maureen O'Hara

Miracle on 34th Street

Circa 1947

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Roy C. Kinsey, then owner of Kinsey Sign Co., built the Roanoke Star along with his three sons, Roy Jr., Bob and Warren. Bob and Warren designed and built the 2,000 feet of neon tubing still used today. The "Star" is actually three stars. A small star in the center, enveloped by a larger, mid-sized frame surrounded by the largest outer frame. Each frame contains three to five sets of clear neon tubes.

The Roanoke Star stands at 88.5 feet, weighs 10,000 pounds and requires 17,500 watts of power to illuminate. It is the world's largest iluminated man-made star. As the largest, free-standing star in the world, the Roanoke Star is one of the most photographed attractions in the area. The scenic overlook at the base of the structure is a popular stop for an incredible view of the region.

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In 2024, the iconic Roanoke Star celebrated its 75th birthday. It is illuminated each night until midnight. The height above the City of Roanoke is 1,847 feet.