Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI)

Acreage

192 acres

Building Size

94,346 SF

The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute occupies 192 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, surrounded by over 512,000 acres of Pisgah National Forest. Originally constructed by NASA in 1963 as a satellite tracking facility and later operated by the National Security Agency through 1995, the site benefits from over $240 million in historical infrastructure investment, including a redundant cooling system and dedicated electrical substation installed during extensive 1980s upgrades. The property features approximately 94,346 square feet of air-conditioned building space across more than 30 structures, with 30,000 square feet of raised floor and capacity to expand built space by an additional 200,000 square feet. Core infrastructure includes administrative and research facilities, laboratories, dormitories, cafeteria capable of 500 meals per day, and observatory buildings. Five on-site wells produce over 80 gallons per minute. The site maintains year-round paved road access, a functional helipad, electricity, septic, potable water, and broadband connectivity. Rolling topography offers ridgetop views within an International Dark Sky Park environment, with Asheville Regional Airport located 36 miles away. The 192-acre parcel is currently owned by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation. Any sale is subject to review and approval by the North Carolina Attorney General under charitable asset transfer regulations. The combination of legacy federal infrastructure, substantial acreage, raised-floor facilities, and established utilities positions the site for institutional research, telecommunications, or data center applications requiring isolation, scalability, and proven utility capacity.