Burning Man purchases 3,800-acre ranch to foster year-round location

by: Lucy Davidson Jun 10, 2016

Burning Man’s non-profit organizer Burning Man Project has announced the purchase of Fly Ranch, a 3,800-acre property located 21 miles north of Gerlach in Washoe County, Nevada. Gerlach is the “gateway to Black Rock City” where Burning Man is held annually, and is also the year-round home of the organization Friends of Black Rock/High Rock. The

The impetus behind the purchase stemmed from organizers’ lingering questions after Burning Man each year which included, “how can we bring this beyond the event, how can we make this really matter, and what would it mean to have a year-round location beyond the playa?”

Burning Man Project became a non-profit organization in 2012 with a stated goal of “amplifying and extending” Burning Man culture. The purchase of Fly Ranch, which will serve as a year-round site in which to apply the Ten Principles of the festival, will allow the organization to expand Burning Man’s existing activities and programs.

In a blog post shared in The Jackrabbit Speaks newsletter and on BMO’s website, the organization explained:

“You may be asking yourself, “What does this mean for us? What can we do with this? How will this benefit the community?” The answers will unfold slowly, over a period of time. We’re a long way from defining exactly what will happen at Fly Ranch, but it’s not too early to begin dreaming of the potential. We’re inspired by this milestone and hope you are too. At this stage there are simply more questions than answers.”

Though the specific purpose of Fly Ranch may not yet be spelled out, it is sure to provide a home base for “new possibilities, new cultural experiments, and art and innovation projects” for the project. Securing a year-round permanent location in addition to the celebrated annual return to ephemeral Black Rock City is “the next step in the grand experiment that is Burning Man.” Check out the video for more information on Fly Ranch.