Part 1: Night Sky Adventures with Star Watch Night Vision Tours
In this episode of Big Blend Radio's Adventures in Asheville Podcast, hosts Steve and Karen Wilson of The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast sit down with Dawn Bankson, owner of Star Watch Night Vision Tours, to talk about exploring Asheville's night sky in a whole new way.
Listen to Part 1:
Using military-grade PVS-7 and PVS-14 night vision goggles — the same technology used by the U.S. military — Dawn takes guests out to dark-sky locations around the Blue Ridge Parkway and Mount Pisgah to spot meteor showers, satellites, and unexplained "travelers" streaking across the night sky.
Steve and Karen share their own experience catching the Perseid Meteor Shower on tour, and the conversation wanders into UFO sightings, Bigfoot lore, and why fall and winter are the best seasons for stargazing in Western North Carolina.
Plus, hear what's on tap at The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast this season, and get the scoop on their in-room beer keg package for Beer City USA visitors.
Riverside Cemetery
Part 2: Ghost Watching at Riverside Cemetery
In Part 2, Lisa D. Smith and Nancy J. Reid join Steve and Karen Wilson of The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast, Dawn Bankson of Star Watch Night Vision Tours, and her guide Todd Robertson for a Halloween-season trip after dark.
Listen to Part 2 Below:
The group meets at historic Riverside Cemetery in Asheville's Montford neighborhood, just a couple of blocks from The Lion & The Rose, and tries the night vision goggles at the old vault that ghost hunters report as the most haunted spot in the cemetery. Through the goggles, the building seems to shimmer with waves of twinkling lights, and the group compares notes on what they're seeing, including possible orbs and the mother bear and two cubs said to be living in the cemetery.
From there, it's out to a farm under a sea of stars to talk about satellites and strange moving lights, how Dawn got started with night vision tours, and why she and Todd love searching for stars and Bigfoot near Mount Pisgah. Todd shares his Sasquatch call, a camping mystery with no bear tracks, and a few squeals that left everyone wondering what was out there.
Follow Dawn & Star Watch Night Vision Tours:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057159232266
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starwatchnight
Stay at The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast:
https://www.lion-rose.com
More Adventures in Asheville:
Podcast Channel: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/adventures-in-asheville-podcast
Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/adventures-in-asheville-magazine