COVID-19 Counter-Measures
Coronavirus concerns have been hard on the tourism industry but many of us are equipped to fight back!
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These electrostatic sprayers are fast becoming the pan-industry standard in disinfection. These are not just the Dark Ranger's favorite weapon in fighting Novel Coronavirus, they are already in use by the airlines, Bryce Canyon Shuttle, and other Southern Utah businesses. Imagine how many fewer would have died if the Public Defense Act had been used to mass produce this made-in-America public health invention, that is still ONLY manufactured in China. Irony? |
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We were one of the first businesses in Utah to require face masks, and even though we are a mostly outdoor experience, we might be one of the last to fully lift the requirement.
Until USA achieves herd immunity (85+% of all people vaccinated) we will require all public tour guests to the Dark Ranger Observatory to wear a face mask when at the telescopes. In the cold night air, without the benefit of our closest star's disinfecting UV light, you will be inhaling the foggy breath of others in the immediate vicinity of each telescope. Think of it as eating off the same few plates with 40 other strangers. We don't think we are overreacting by still requiring face masks. Do you? Alternatively when you book a private tour face masks are not required. Maybe your whole group is fully vaccinated? Great! Maybe you are anti-vaxxers, exercising your freedumbs? Okay!? Either way, we will probably still wear our face masks so you don't have to wear yours. And you are welcome! We realize that herd immunity might not occur for years. If that time frame is even as remotely frustrating for you as it is to us, please tell all the anti-vaxxers you encounter that we said their behavior is ruining everybody's rights to Life, Liberty, and their Pursuits of Happiness.
In the meantime verify your vax and relax. To expedite herd immunity we are rewarding those who are vaccinated with $10 rebates on their $10 upgrades for Zero Gravity Loungers.
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What if I refuse to wear a face mask (properly or otherwise)?
If you love America enough to respect the most American thing about America, which of course, is private property rights, you will thank us for the generous 94% refund we will process to accommodate your ideology / vaccinated privilege. And after you contritely apologize to us and our other guests for your disruptive behavior, we will expect you to wave goodbye using all of your fingers.
Otherwise you will be reported for trespassing and a Garfield County deputy, or perhaps the Sheriff himself, will help explain why we Utahans cherish, honor, and protect private property rights. NOTE: They do have better things to do, so when they arrive, they will probably prefer to do most of the talking, and may not be super interested in hearing about all your philosophies and/or your epidemiological "expertise."
Otherwise you will be reported for trespassing and a Garfield County deputy, or perhaps the Sheriff himself, will help explain why we Utahans cherish, honor, and protect private property rights. NOTE: They do have better things to do, so when they arrive, they will probably prefer to do most of the talking, and may not be super interested in hearing about all your philosophies and/or your epidemiological "expertise."
COVID-19 Cancellation Options
If you have already booked a telescope tour and are contemplating cancelling, please review these options:
With these mitigation measures, we are ready to safely entertain you now. However, if you are adhering to travel restrictions, or honoring a full-on "lock down," or just being cautious, we applaud your caution. Your safety is far more important to us than your money, so we have created a generous COVID cancellation policy.
Of course we would prefer that you choose either option #1 or option #2. We are a young business, still buying down the debts we needed to take-on so we could become one of the top ranked public observatories on Earth:
However, if you need your money back now, we will do everything we can to see that you get it in a timely manner, and there will be no hard feelings. Instead, we will just begrudge the banks and their ever increasing costs for credit card transaction fees, which hurt everybody (except them) when it comes to cancellations.
Of course by choosing either option #1 or #2 you will NOT be helping them profit from this pandemic.
Of course we would prefer that you choose either option #1 or option #2. We are a young business, still buying down the debts we needed to take-on so we could become one of the top ranked public observatories on Earth:
However, if you need your money back now, we will do everything we can to see that you get it in a timely manner, and there will be no hard feelings. Instead, we will just begrudge the banks and their ever increasing costs for credit card transaction fees, which hurt everybody (except them) when it comes to cancellations.
Of course by choosing either option #1 or #2 you will NOT be helping them profit from this pandemic.
1) Store Credit :-)
The easiest win-win solution would be for us to issue you store credit. There is a chance we might raise our prices slightly in the future, but we will make every effort to avoid doing so until 2021.
Eventually booking Store Credit will also be directly transferable to gift shop Store Credit. That way if you can't make it back this way for a while, you can at least buy some cool take-home memorabilia from our future gift shop without having to actually leave home.
Eventually booking Store Credit will also be directly transferable to gift shop Store Credit. That way if you can't make it back this way for a while, you can at least buy some cool take-home memorabilia from our future gift shop without having to actually leave home.
2) Reschedule / "float" your booking
Like 1) above this option ALSO does not require any additional credit card transaction fees. The extra benefit over option #1, is that you will be protected against any future price increases we might have to make. We will "float" your current reservation with the current price, price-locked, as many times as it takes, up to another 42 years into the future -- our anticipated lifespan of the owner, Kevin "The Dark Ranger" Poe.
How "floating" your booking really works: First we will move your booking to a full Moon night (when we are likely to not fill up, so no opportunity cost to us), and then when you have firmed up your postponed travel plans to visit the Bryce Canyon region, just let us know and we will move your booking again to that rescheduled night. You don't even have worry about contacting us again prior to your temporary date. Once you have chosen this option, you are in our system. Even if you forget about us, we won't forget about you -- we'll send a friendly reminder each year.
Realize that if at any point, you later change your mind. you can ALSO ask to cancel your floated reservation.
How "floating" your booking really works: First we will move your booking to a full Moon night (when we are likely to not fill up, so no opportunity cost to us), and then when you have firmed up your postponed travel plans to visit the Bryce Canyon region, just let us know and we will move your booking again to that rescheduled night. You don't even have worry about contacting us again prior to your temporary date. Once you have chosen this option, you are in our system. Even if you forget about us, we won't forget about you -- we'll send a friendly reminder each year.
Realize that if at any point, you later change your mind. you can ALSO ask to cancel your floated reservation.
3) Cancel & Refund... If we must. :-(
If you need your money back now, we TOTALLY understand and will make every effort to issue a refund as quickly as possible. We just need you to understand that we can only refund a maximum of 94% (another 6% will be lost to transaction fees in getting your money back on your credit card).
Also note that refund deadline windows still apply, even though we are making them more flexible in the face of the pandemic.
Private tours: 58% refunded if cancellation less than 7 days notice before night of the tour. 0% if less than 4 days.
Public Tours: 58% refunded if less than 36 hours notice before show time. 0% if less than 4 hours .
Also note that refund deadline windows still apply, even though we are making them more flexible in the face of the pandemic.
Private tours: 58% refunded if cancellation less than 7 days notice before night of the tour. 0% if less than 4 days.
Public Tours: 58% refunded if less than 36 hours notice before show time. 0% if less than 4 hours .
Call, text, or email, when you decide on your option; or if you just have questions.
435-590-9498 or darkrangertelescopetours@gmail.com
Attempts at telepathy, even if successful, will be ignored and not accepted.
Wait! Can't we just donate the $ (deposit or full payment) we made for our booking to support the Dark Rangers® in their scientific and educational endeavors?
Well... [ scraping foot in the dirt with down-cast and tearful eyes of gratitude ] we weren't going to suggest that as an option out of pride and good up-bringing... BUT since you asked... And because it has happened before...
Absolutely! We even have fun ways of saying thank you in addition to just saying "Thank you!":
- Print your name (and $-amount, if you want?) on the back of one of our amphitheater chairs. So future guests can also know of your generosity.
- Email (1) high-res, copyright free, astronomy image taken by a Dark Ranger® for every ticket you donate. You can even pick from a selection.
- Something else that we and other benevolent would-have-been guests have not yet thought of, but maybe you have?
Absolutely! We even have fun ways of saying thank you in addition to just saying "Thank you!":
- Print your name (and $-amount, if you want?) on the back of one of our amphitheater chairs. So future guests can also know of your generosity.
- Email (1) high-res, copyright free, astronomy image taken by a Dark Ranger® for every ticket you donate. You can even pick from a selection.
- Something else that we and other benevolent would-have-been guests have not yet thought of, but maybe you have?
