page_title: Roanoke Star
section_title: Overlook and zoo
hierarchical_section_title: Roanoke Star / Overlook and zoo
caption_attribution_description: English: Roanoke City as seen from Mill Mountain Star at dusk in Virginia, USA. Italiano: Roanoke City vista dalla Mill Mountain Star.
context_page_description: The Roanoke Star, also known as the Mill Mountain Star, and the Hollywood sign of the East Coast, is the world's largest freestanding illuminated man-made star, constructed in 1949 at the top of Mill Mountain in Roanoke, Virginia. It is visible for 60 miles from the air and it sits 1,045 feet above the city of Roanoke.
context_section_description: Directly in front of the star is an overlook that features dramatic views of the Roanoke Valley and, particularly, downtown Roanoke. The overlook is a well known place to photograph Roanoke. It is also a site where area residents take visiting friends and relatives.
  A small zoo was built near the star on the summit of Mill Mountain. Mill Mountain Zoo was originally designated as strictly a children's zoo, but the number of exhibits and variety of animals has expanded. The star, overlook, and zoo are accessible both from Roanoke and from a spur of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Roanoke Mountain. There are numerous hiking trails to the star, and from the star to the zoo.
  From 1910 to 1929, an inclined railway ran from near the current location of Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital to the mountain's summit. The path of the incline is still visible today. The primary destination was an inn. A group dedicated to making Roanoke an attractive community for 40-year-olds has proposed rebuilding the inn.  David Bowers, former mayor, stated opposition to the park building proposal in his campaign, as did the Roanoke chapter of the Sierra Club and the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation.
  The star and the park around it are popular picnic spots by day. They are also popular hangouts at night.
  Mill Mountain's summit is 1,740 feet (530 m) feet above sea level.
caption: View from the overlook in front of the Mill Mountain Star.
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