Our Mission

To ignite the natural curiosity of all learners to explore and shape their world.

Afternoon Explorations

Afternoon Explorations is open every Thursday and Friday from 1:30PM-5:00PM (last entry at 4:00PM) During each visit you’ll have the opportunity to explore some of your favorite parts of Roper Mountain including Environmental Science Building, Harrison Hall, the Living History Farm, Pirate Playground, and so much more!

Join us on Friday November 20th from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. for a special afternoon event: Fall on the Farm! 


Participate in many family friendly farm activities, including apple cider pressing and tasting, play with historic toys and games, gem mining and so much more! 

There will be on-going demonstrations like broom making, woodworking and blacksmithing. Visit our barn animals, the gardens and stop by the food truck to purchase delicious treats!


We will wrap up our event with our stage show on the patio at 4:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing you!

Upcoming Events in 2026: 

• December 11th- Grinchy Christmas

FRIDAY STARRY NIGHTS

Fueled by Fluor

Cosmic Adventure

November 6, 13, 20 
4:30 p.m.

Details and Tickets  

Solar Superstorms

November 6, 13, 20 
6:00 p.m.

Details and Tickets  

A Race Through Space

November 6, 13, 20 
7:30 p.m.

Details and Tickets  

Members: If you are unable to attend your scheduled showtime, please contact us at 864-355-0805 by 2:00pm Friday so your reserved seats can be made available to other patrons.

FIRST FRIDAY LASER NIGHTS

November 6th, 9:00pm
Laser Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon

The Return of the Buck Mickel Star!

A special thank you to Carolina Power and KWS for their generous support and outstanding work in rebulbing and refurbishing our beloved Buck Mickel Star! We’re excited to see this cherished holiday tradition shine brightly in the night sky once again this holiday season! Thanks to the generosity of several donors, including one very special anonymous gift, the Star is ready to shine again. We appreciate everyone who helped keep this special part of our community’s holiday spirit alive!

Agents of Discovery

Brought to you by Milliken

A new adventure is coming to Roper Mountain! Do you have what it takes to become an Agent of Discovery?

Agents of Discovery is a FREE mobile app game available for both iPhone and Android devices.

Join our very own Agent Roper Rex to complete a new mission each month! Missions will encourage players to explore outdoor locations like the Dinosaur Adventure Trail, the Arboretum, or Wildwoods to complete challenges and earn digital badges.

Players who complete the Roper Mountain missions will earn digital badges. Show your digital badge at the Nature Exchange for 500 POINTS! (Only badges earned for Roper Mountain missions may apply.)



Note: users can play the onsite missions at Roper Mountain or use the app from anywhere to complete missions for other participating sites nationwide! The app and missions can be downloaded in advance and then played onsite without using WiFi or data. Agents of Discovery requires your device’s Location Services to be activated in order to play and GPS must be turned on.

End of Year Giving

As we move towards the closing of 2026, we're reflecting on what makes Roper Mountain special. The field trips, the summer camps, wow moments when a child experiences the touch tank for the first time, the laughter on the playground, and we certainly can't forget the joy heard from kids on the dinosaur trail. Your support makes all of this possible. Those moments get to happen here every day. 

This season, we're asking that you embrace the laughter and support Roper Mountain's story. Whether you give $25 or $2,500, every contribution helps open the doors for every kid to experience the joy on the Mountain.

RMSCA Scholarship

The Roper Mountain Science Center Association (RMSCA) is pleased to share a scholarship opportunity for high school seniors during the 2026–2027 school year.

The RMSCA Scholarship supports local students who are passionate about learning, exploring new ideas and making a difference. Multiple one-time scholarships will be awarded to students who demonstrate an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), a commitment to their education and a desire to positively contribute to their community.

Application Deadline: December 31, 2026

Loved seeing all of you at the Fall for KINDness event on October 25th! Look out for the Roper Mountain Outreach team at other community events.

PJs in the Planetarium

Kick off the holiday season with a little extra magic at PJs in the Planetarium on December 5 and 12! Put on your favorite cozy pajamas and join us for a festive morning filled with stars, popcorn, and holiday fun.

Enjoy popcorn in the planetarium as you explore the night sky, then settle in for The Alien Who Stole Christmas, a delightful holiday movie on the dome. Before or after the show, stop by the lobby for hands-on holiday activities, including a special take-home craft to keep the fun going!

Special thanks to the Duke Energy Foundation for sponsoring the new Power in Motion solar exhibit in the courtyard outside Symmes Hall of Science. In this hands-on energy exhibit, students discover how sunlight becomes motion. Through simple interaction and immediate feedback, students explore renewable energy, energy transfer, and cause-and-effect in a memorable, physical way that connects natural resources to real-world technology. Thank you, Duke Energy, for helping us fulfill our mission to ignite the natural curiosity of all learners to explore and shape their world.

Members receive 10% off all t-shirt and hat purchases. Mention that you are a member to receive your discount.

PLUS earn an additional 25 points each time you wear your t-shirt to Nature Exchange!

Walmart Spark Good Program 

Walmart recently launched Walmart Spark Good Round Up where customers can round up their purchases to the nearest dollar and donate the change to their favorite charity. We would love for you to choose Roper Mountain Science Center as your charity to receive these donations every time you shop on Walmart.com. Just select us from the drop down menu when you checkout!

Give Back to Roper Mountain

Help Roper Mountain continue to inspire learning and create unforgettable experiences with a donation! Visit our Donors Page to make your gift today.

Spread The Word About Roper Mountain 

Visit our Facebook page, TripAdvisor page, Google listing and/or Yelp page to leave a review and help us spread the word about our public and school programming.

We welcome your feedback. Email Roper Mountain to share your thoughts.