Historic Antelope is a small rural town in north-central Oregon, committed to protecting a significant asset the town has to offer, a night sky where one can “see the Milky Way from Main Street.” Once a community known for the Rajneesh Invasion, this designation is dedicated to Antelope’s future, and the next generation, bringing recognition that Antelope has much worth protecting and celebrating, including a dark night sky, to be enjoyed today by residents and visitors alike, and preserved for future generations. 

Located in the upper Antelope Valley, the city of Antelope is rich in history. On an ancient route from the John Day watershed, the upper Antelope Valley was on the route to the Great Trade Center at The Dalles and Celilo Falls on the Columbia River. The upper Antelope valley made a good resting spot along the route, and settlements in the area were common.  The valley was home to Native Americans long before Euro-American explorers, trappers, and settlers arrived.

The discovery of gold at Canyon Creek in 1862 brought a rush of new people to the area. Within a year, nearly 10,000 fortune hunters trekked to the gold fields from The Dalles. The route then became known as The Dalles – Canyon City Wagon Road. By the 1870s, the small town of Antelope was established, incorporated in 1901. Antelope’s population boomed, and then deflated over time, becoming a quiet ranching town for eight decades, home to no more than a few dozen people.

The situation changed dramatically in 1981 when the Rajneesh Movement arrived in town. With deep pockets the Rajneesh Movement bought the nearby 64,000-acre Big Muddy Ranch on the John Day River. They also began buying up lots in the town proper. The movement aimed to create a utopia in the desert. As more Rajneesh moved to Antelope, more of the town’s original residents sold their lots and left. The movement thrived for a few years, but in 1985 it fell apart following criminal revelations.

Antelope today is a small historic community of individuals who seek quiet, peace, and modest prosperity. Antelope has experienced both boom and bust, from the gold rush of the 1860’s to the Rajneesh invasion in the 1980’s. Now a new chapter is opening in the history of the community, and that is to be known for, and share with visitors, its pristine dark night sky. Antelope was the first United States Postal Service established in Oregon, reflecting the code 97001. Another first for this little town is the designation of a Dark Sky Community, being the first designated community in the State of Oregon.  International Dark Sky designation celebrates a most prized asset: “Antelope, “Where you can see the Milky Way from Main Street.”