COVID-19 Counter-Measures
Coronavirus concerns have been hard on the tourism industry but many of us are equipped to fight back!
These hydrostatic 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 others Southern Utah businesses. We have an extra ally in that Mother Nature is on our side. As a high-elevation, outdoor facility, our closest star is formidable virus-killer.
Until the CDC / Utah Public Health declare an "all clear," we will require all guest to the Dark Ranger Observatory wear a face mask and gloves. If you forget yours we will even provide nitrile gloves and an FDA approved surgical mask for free. We strongly recommend that you bring your own light weight gloves (e.g. driving gloves) as the nitrile gloves we offer do get cold. Yes, our summer nights get that cold, wear long pants and bring a jacket!
Until the CDC / Utah Public Health declare an "all clear," we will require all guest to the Dark Ranger Observatory wear a face mask and gloves. If you forget yours we will even provide nitrile gloves and an FDA approved surgical mask for free. We strongly recommend that you bring your own light weight gloves (e.g. driving gloves) as the nitrile gloves we offer do get cold. Yes, our summer nights get that cold, wear long pants and bring a jacket!
With these mitigation measure we are ready to safely entertain you now. However, if you are adhering to travel restrictions, or honoring a full-on "lock down" we applaud your wisdom. The ONLY known cure for Covid-19 is social distancing and stay-at-home orders. The experts we read suggest that with just 75% face mask compliance the pandemic would end in just 2 weeks. For Freedumb reasons, Southern Utah only has these precautions as advisories -- so be careful when traveling in our beloved state!
NOTE: Our 120-acre property is NOT one of these Utah places where you will be welcome to exercise your no-face mask freedumbs. We reserve the right to refuse service to customers who refuse to comply, and we will happily offer 94% refunds to all who leave peacefully. Others will be reported as trespassers.
NOTE: Our 120-acre property is NOT one of these Utah places where you will be welcome to exercise your no-face mask freedumbs. We reserve the right to refuse service to customers who refuse to comply, and we will happily offer 94% refunds to all who leave peacefully. Others will be reported as trespassers.
COVID-19 Cancellation Options
If you have already booked a telescope tour and are contemplating cancelling, please review these options:
Your safety is very important to us, as is your state of mind. 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.
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?
