World's Largest Star

A neon star first lit for the Christmas season of 1949 still shines above Roanoke more than 75 years later. The Roanoke Star stands on Mill Mountain, which Virginia's Department of Historic Resources gives as 1,746 feet high, with the south bank of the Roanoke River 846 feet below. The Roanoke Merchants Association erected the star, and it was first lit on 23 November 1949. Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge says Kinsey Sign Co. built it with 2,000 feet of neon tubing arranged as three stars, and lists the structure at 88.5 feet tall and the star at 10,000 pounds. The state describes it as the largest man-made illuminated star in the world, and it was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. Accounts of its purpose differ a little. The Department of Historic Resources calls it a permanent Christmas decoration; former mayor and local historian Nelson Harris told WSLS in 2024 it was meant to come down after a couple of months. Residents asked for it to stay on, and Roanoke became known as the “Star City of the South”. The Department's page, updated in June 2023, says it is lit every night until midnight. In July 2026 WSET reported it is lit every night. Age brings upkeep. In 2023 WDBJ reported that a city study had found serious deficiencies that could cost millions, with restoration or replacement under discussion. In September 2025 the station reported repairs after inspectors found loose bulbs, noting that parts are no longer easy to source and that the star had gone dark six times in 20 years. Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge gives driving directions from the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the overlook at the base is described as a popular stop for views of the valley.