The popular ski town of Breckenridge, Colorado, just became the first mountain ski resort community in the state to become dark sky certified. The designation, which was bestowed by DarkSky International in July 2025, was awarded due to the town's efforts to protect "its exceptional alpine nightscape and natural environment for current and future generations." The certification followed years of work, including adopting a strict exterior lighting ordinance, replacing outdated street lamps, and requiring new construction to comply with dark sky standards.