Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI)
Tours run only when the site is not taken by school, scout or private groups; call ahead or check the calendar.
Former NASA tracking station in the North Carolina mountains, now a research and education campus with radio telescopes, a space museum and mineral galleries open for self-guided or guided tours.
Ways to visit
Self-guided tour Open
Only when the site is not occupied by other groups.
- What you see
- Exhibits, Groundspari.edu, 2026-10-26
- How
- Walk in · about 2 hourspari.edu, 2026-10-26
- When
- MonTueWedThuFriSatSunUsually weekdays and some Saturdays from 10:00 a.m.; the site usually closes at 5:00 p.m. Arrive by 3:00 p.m.; most parties take two hours or more.Calendar ↗pari.edu, 2026-10-26
- Booking
- Not stated · by phoneThe page strongly recommends calling a few days ahead to check availability or checking the calendar for designated days.Book (PARI) ↗pari.edu, 2026-10-26
- Cost
- PaidSelf-guided tour, per person: $12pari.edu, 2026-10-26
- Requirements
- None stated.
Guided Gallery Tour (scientist-guided) Open
- What you see
- Exhibits, Inside tour, Groundspari.edu, 2026-10-26
- How
- Scheduled tour, By arrangement · about 2 hourspari.edu, 2026-10-26
- When
- Choose a scheduled tour from the calendar or contact PARI to book your own date.Calendar ↗pari.edu, 2026-10-26
- Booking
- Required · online or by phoneBy reservation only; most group bookings add a $6 registration fee.Book (PARI) ↗pari.edu, 2026-10-26
- Cost
- PaidUp to 10 guests: $150 · Each additional guest: $15Group registration fee (most bookings): $6pari.edu, 2026-10-26
- Requirements
- None stated.
About
PARI occupies a 1960s NASA satellite tracking site near Rosman and now hosts research instruments, a NASA artifact gallery, meteorite and mineral galleries and a fluorescent mineral tunnel. Visitors can tour on their own for a per-person fee or book a scientist-guided two-hour tour. Because school and scout groups and events get priority, the self-guided option is not always available. A four-hour VIP tour and planetarium or add-on packages also exist and are not described here.
Run by: Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute.
Getting there
1 PARI Drive, Rosman, NC, 28772
The pin marks the site itself, not necessarily the entrance (35.19960, -82.87240). Apple Maps directions go to the street address instead. Show on our map · Google Maps · Apple Maps
PARI: (828) 862-5554
Last checked 2026-10-26. Sources are listed below.
Sources
- pari.edu · official page · read 2026-10-26For: name; street address; who runs it; phone and email
- wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityData/Q7198… · Wikidata · read 2026-10-26For: location
- pari.edu/visit/tour/ · official page · read 2026-10-26For: Self-guided tour: open or closed; Self-guided tour: what you see; Self-guided tour: kind of visit; Self-guided tour: days and hours; Self-guided tour: booking; Self-guided tour: cost; Self-guided tour: requirements; Guided Gallery Tour (scientist-guided): open or closed; Guided Gallery Tour (scientist-guided): what you see; Guided Gallery Tour (scientist-guided): kind of visit; Guided Gallery Tour (scientist-guided): days and hours; Guided Gallery Tour (scientist-guided): booking; Guided Gallery Tour (scientist-guided): cost; Guided Gallery Tour (scientist-guided): requirements
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