Nevada

Burning Man survived a muddy quagmire — Will the experiment last 30 more years?

Published

2 years ago

January 3, 2024

Burning Man survived a muddy quagmire — Will the experiment last 30 more years?

RENO, Nev. — The blank canvas of desert wilderness in northern Nevada seemed the perfect place in 1992 for artistic anarchists to relocate their annual burning of a towering, anonymous effigy. It was goodbye to San Francisco’s Baker Beach, hello to the Nevada playa, the long-ago floor of an inland sea.

The tiny gathering became Burning Man’s surrealistic circus, fueled by acts of kindness and avant-garde theatrics, sometimes with a dose of hallucinogens or nudity. The spectacle flourished as the festival ballooned over the next three decades.

Some say it grew too much, too fast.

Things came to a head in 2011 when tickets sold out for the first time.

Organizers responded with a short-lived lottery system that left people out of what was supposed to be a radically inclusive event.

As Burning Man matured, luxurious accommodations proliferated, as did the population of billionaires and celebrities.

Katherine Chen, a sociology professor in New York City who wrote a 2009 book about the event’s “creative chaos,” was among those who wondered whether Burning Man “would be a victim of its own success.”

Exponential growth led to increasing questions about whether organizers had veered too far from the core principles of radical inclusion, expression, participation and the pledge to “leave no trace.”

That last hurdle was never harder to clear than this year as “Burners” tried to leave over Labor Day weekend after torching the 80-foot (24-meter) wooden sculpture that is “the Man.”

A rare rainstorm turned the Black Rock Desert into a muddy quagmire 110 miles (175 kilometers) north of Reno, delaying the departure of 80,000 revelers. Once out, organizers had six weeks to clean up under terms of a federal permit.

By the smallest of margins, they passed the test last month, with a few adjustments recommended for the future. The verdict from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management means Burning Man is in line to use federal land again next year.

Debate over the event’s future, however, is sure to continue as divisions grow between the aging hippie types and wealthier, more technologically inclined newcomers. Veteran participants fear the newer set is losing touch with Burning Man’s roots.

The event has made a quantum leap from a gathering of hundreds to one that temporarily becomes Nevada’s third largest city after metropolitan Las Vegas and Reno. The festival drew 4,000 in 1995 and topped 50,000 in 2010.

It’s no wonder seasoned Burners sound a bit like griping cribbage players on a rural town square when they mutter: “It ain’t like it used to be.”

“Back then, it was much more raw,” said Mike “Festie” Malecki, 63, a retired Chicago mortician turned California sculptor who made his 13th trip this year to the land of colorful theme camps, towering sculptures, drum circles and art cars.

“There are more (people) who come out to party and don’t participate. We call them spectators,” he said.

Senior organizers long have wrestled with whether to become more civilized or remain what co-founder Larry Harvey described as a “repudiation of order and authority.”

Ron Halbert, a 71-year-old from San Francisco, has worked support for Burning Man’s 90-piece orchestra for 20 years and remains optimistic.

“It’s still the gathering of the tribe,” he said.

The event is permitted tentatively for the same 80,000 attendance cap next year.

Organizers are considering some minor changes, though generally resist making new rules, said Marian Goodell, Burning Man Project’s chief executive officer.

Critics on social media howled at the mayhem left behind this year, posting photos of garbage piles, abandoned vehicles and overflowing portable toilets while ridiculing the “hippies” and their leave-no-trace mantra.

But that mayhem may have actually helped bring Burning Man back to its roots.

Katrina Cook of Toronto said it forced people to be true to the founding principles of participation and radical self-reliance.

“The rain weeded out the people who didn’t want to be there for the right reason,” Cook said.

Mark Fromson, 54, was staying in an RV, but the rains forced him to find shelter at another camp where fellow burners provided food and cover.

Another principle of Burning Man, he said, centers on unconditional gift giving with no expectation of something in return.

After sunset, Fromson set off barefoot through the muck for a long trek back to his vehicle, slogging through thick clay that clung to his feet and legs. The challenge, he said, was the mark of a “good burn.”

Nevertheless, Jeffery Longoria of San Francisco, who marked his fifth consecutive voyage to Burning Man last summer, said its core principles are going to evolve no matter what as a new generation takes over.

“The people that created this community, a lot of them are getting older and retiring and there’s a lot of new young people coming in, the kind that have, you know, a couple $100,000 RVs and are kind of just careless about the environment.”

Soren Michael, a Los Angeles technology worker who made his 11th trip this year, said the biggest change has been the ability to communicate with the outside world from the desert.

“It was almost part of the appeal to be disconnected,” he said.

Twenty years ago, the psychedelic celebration like none other already was attracting academic scholars — anthropologists, sociologists, political scientists, economists and communications professors — curious about how the makeshift civilization functioned without real-world rules.

Burning Man references started popping up in TV episodes and talk show punchlines.

The rich and famous began venturing to Black Rock City, as the festival’s temporary metropolis is called.

A full-blown exhibit about the phenomenon debuted in 2018 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington. Even then, veteran Burners complained about the event becoming as much a curiosity to see as to do.

That’s in part the problem veterans have with the advent of glamor camping, or glamping, in which private companies provide packaged trips to concierge camps with luxury RVs and lavish meals under chandeliers. Some believe the camps violate Burning Man principles.

The growing number of billionaires and celebrities who fly in on private jets to Black Rock City’s temporary airstrip “seems to be everyone’s favorite thing to hate,” Goodell said. But wealth shouldn’t be a cause for shame, she said.

“The question is not about glamping,” she said. “Comfort doesn’t assume lack of engagement. It’s whether you have a glamping camp and you’re not really engaging.”

Burning Man’s purpose remains the same: building a creative, stimulating environment, the essence of which people can take back to their own communities.

“We thought that from the beginning,” Goodell said. “We just didn’t know it would be 80,000 people.”

Source link

Click to comment

Nevada

9 Best Places To Live In Nevada In 2026

Published

4 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

Nevada has emerged as one of the most attractive places to live in the US, drawing thousands of new residents each year who seek a high quality of life. The state’s biggest draw for most is financial. As one of just a handful of states with no personal income tax, no corporate income tax, and no inheritance tax, the state allows residents to keep more of their income. This, coupled with property taxes that rank among the lowest in the nation, makes the financial case for moving to Nevada hard to ignore. Beyond the tax advantages, Nevada offers stunning natural beauty, including portions of the Sierra Nevada mountains and the Mojave Desert. Nevada’s outdoor recreation is genuinely world-class. Add in 300 days of sunshine across most of the state, and it is easy to see why Nevada has become one of the best places to live in 2026.

Henderson

The cityscape of Henderson, Nevada.

Henderson consistently ranks among the best cities in Nevada for families, safety, and income. With over 330,000 residents and proximity to downtown Las Vegas, Henderson ranks among the best cities to live and work in America. Major employers include Amazon, Haas Automation, and a growing number of tech companies. The city’s economic strength is reflected in a 22% population increase over the past year (according to a Storage Cafe study), making it one of America’s fastest-growing cities.

Night view of the beautiful Emerald Island Casino in Water Street District at Henderson, Nevada. — Night view of the beautiful Emerald Island Casino in the Water Street District in Henderson, Nevada. Image credit Kit Leong via Shutterstock.com

Communities like Green Valley, Anthem, and MacDonald Ranch offer beautifully designed neighborhoods with access to golf courses, hiking trails, and resort-style amenities. The city also has a growing cultural scene, with the downtown Water Street District experiencing a revitalization in recent years. With over 70 parks, award-winning recreational facilities, and proximity to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, there is no shortage of things to do in Henderson.

Reno

Nicknamed the “Biggest Little City in the World,” Reno has undergone one of the most impressive reinventions of any American city in recent years. Once known only as Las Vegas’s grittier little cousin, Reno has become a genuine innovation hub, attracting talent, investment, and many new residents. Reno’s transformation was brought on by the arrival of Tesla’s Gigafactory at the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center in 2016. Soon after, Panasonic and several other tech and manufacturing companies invested in the city. Today, Reno has earned a US Economic Development Administration Tech Hub designation, and more than 2,000 tech companies have relocated to the region.

The Reno Arch in Reno, Nevada. Image credit travelview via Shutterstock.com

Reno’s cultural scene has also grown alongside its economy, with the University of Nevada, Reno, and downtown serving as a hub for music venues, restaurants, education, and athletics. With approximately 280,000 residents, Reno offers many urban amenities on a smaller scale. Sitting on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains and about a 30-mile drive from Lake Tahoe, Reno is also a popular destination for outdoor adventure. Residents can spend weekends hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and skiing, all within a short drive.

Summerlin

Summerlin is built around 26 master-planned villages, where cul-de-sacs and tree-canopied streets replace the gridlock of surrounding areas. With 150+ miles of trails within walking distance of most homes and shopping concentrated in open-air centers like Downtown Summerlin, the community has everything you need at your fingertips. The community boasts over 250 parks and ten golf courses, making it one of the most recreation-rich suburban environments in the region. With average home values over $700,000, according to Zillow, Summerlin sits at the premium end of the state’s real-estate market.

While pricey, Summerline delivers exceptional value to comparable communities due to its proximity to the Las Vegas job market and a wide array of highly rated public and private schools. The community is also close to Red Rock Canyon, one of Nevada’s most beloved natural landmarks, providing Summerlin residents with daily access to extraordinary natural beauty.

Sparks

Sparks has benefited directly from Reno’s economic boom in multiple ways. Just a few miles east of Reno, Sparks has quietly carved out its own niche in the region, becoming a hub for families who want a slower, suburban pace of life while still having access to everything the big city has to offer. Sparks offers a more accessible entry point into the Nevada housing market than Reno, with average home values around $500,00.

The town hosts festivals, concerts, and community events throughout the year, including the famous Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off, which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Sparks is also home to the Sparks Marina Park, and has easy access to Lake Tahoe for weekend adventure.

Carson City

Carson City is steeped in Nevada history and is an excellent value proposition for young families and remote workers who don’t need the hustle and bustle of a big metropolitan city. As the capital city, Carson City feels neither big nor small. It offers the best features of a small town of 50,000 while maintaining access to some of the state’s larger, more popular destinations. The Nevada State Museum, the Nevada State Capitol, the Kit Carson Trail, and the old downtown district give the city a cultural richness that larger, faster-growing Nevada cities sometimes lack.

Residents are also within 20 minutes of the beaches and ski runs of Lake Tahoe and within easy reach of the Sierra Nevada wilderness. The Eagle Valley Golf Course and the miles of public land make outdoor living a reality rather than a luxury. While housing prices reflect the city’s growing popularity, with average home values at just under $500,000, they remain significantly more affordable than in Nevada’s larger cities.

Boulder City

Boulder City was built in the 1930s to house workers constructing the Hoover Dam and is one of the most unique small cities in the state. With approximately 15,500 residents, Boulder City has retained its historic character, intentionally limited its growth, and has chosen to remain one of only two places in Nevada where gambling is prohibited.

Entrance to the Lake Mead Marina in Boulder City, Nevada. Image credit Nadia Yong via Shutterstock.com

Meanwhile, the Nevada State Railroad Museum, the Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum, and Hoover Dam offer residents a wealth of unique cultural history to explore. Lake Mead National Recreation Area, one of the nation’s largest reservoirs, sits on the city’s doorstep and is perfect for a weekend on the water. The Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area and proximity to Red Rock Canyon add hiking and rock climbing to the mix.

Las Vegas

To dismiss Las Vegas as a tourist destination is to miss the reality of one of America’s most dynamic cities. Las Vegas is a city with strong career opportunities, major sports franchises, world-class dining, and a growing community identity that extends far beyond gambling and nightlife. The key to loving Las Vegas is knowing where to live. Communities like Centennial Hills offer top-tier amenities, excellent schools, and suburban tranquillity that feel worlds away from the Strip. But for those seeking urban energy, the downtown Arts District and areas around the University of Nevada, Las Vegas offer a more bohemian, walkable experience.

Las Vegas has the largest and most diverse job market in Nevada, anchored by hospitality, tourism, and a growing tech sector. According to the 2026 Area Development report, Las Vegas ranked first nationally in the Mega Locations category. Major employers span every sector, and the city’s role as a world-leading convention destination creates sustained demand for a wide range of business services. Average home values of around $420,000 also place Las Vegas below the state average of $440,000.

Mesquite

About 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas near the Arizona border, Mesquite has quietly become one of Nevada’s premier destinations. Its setting in the Virgin River Valley, surrounded by the Mojave Desert, is simply stunning. The Virgin River Gorge, local hiking trails, and access to Lake Mead contribute to an outdoor lifestyle that appeals to people of all ages.

With year-round warm weather, championship golf courses, and a relaxed community atmosphere, Mesquite offers a lifestyle hard to beat. Mesquite has a strong appeal to retirees, with a median resident age of about 60. Retirees on fixed incomes, in particular, appreciate the affordable housing, with average home values below $400,000.

Incline Village

Incline Village is a small community on the north shore of Lake Tahoe and is the only Nevada town with direct lake access. With just over 9,000 residents, Incline Village is intimate yet highly livable. The Diamond Peak Ski Resort is in your backyard, and the surrounding forests offer hundreds of miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Two private beaches, Incline Beach and Burnt Cedar Beach, are reserved exclusively for Incline Village residents.

Property values are among the highest in Nevada (at over $1M), reflecting the town’s limited housing supply. The community is best suited to affluent buyers, retirees with substantial savings, and outdoor enthusiasts who want to live right next to Lake Tahoe. For those who can afford it, the lifestyle is extraordinary.

Your New Life in Nevada Awaits

Nevada in 2026 is a state that is economically diversified, financially advantageous, and home to a remarkable range of communities that consistently compete with the best in the country. Whether you are drawn by the career opportunities of a booming tech sector or the serenity of a small town with mountain views, Nevada has somewhere that fits.

Keep in mind that the best place to live in Nevada depends entirely on you. Your career stage, your family situation, your budget, and your vision for the life you want. Take the time to explore your options, visit the communities that speak to you, and find the version of Nevada that makes you want to stay, not just for a weekend, but for good.

Source link

Nevada

Vandalism damages HVAC at high school in North Las Vegas

Published

16 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

Vandalism damages HVAC at high school in North Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Vandalism at Cheyenne High School forced crews to work early Monday to restore the campus HVAC system before classes began, according to the Clark County School District (CCSD).

CCSD officials said the damage occurred over the weekend, but facilities teams completed repairs before 8 a.m. Monday, allowing instruction to continue as scheduled. School staff monitored temperatures during the work to ensure conditions remained safe for students and employees.

MORE ON FOX5 | 30 CCSD football programs go ‘independent’ within NIAA

The district said the vandalism also prompted a temporary shutdown of the building’s water fountains while required testing of the school’s water system is underway. CCSD said bottled water is being provided to students and staff while officials await test results, and that all other water systems on campus remain operational.

District officials said there has been no disruption to the school day, citing the quick response from school staff, CCSD Facilities and Martin-Harris Construction.

Source link

Nevada

Jeff Choate evaluates spring camp following Nevada’s first padded scrimmage

Published

1 day ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

Jeff Choate evaluates spring camp following Nevada’s first padded scrimmage

The Nevada football team held its first closed scrimmage of spring camp last Thursday with the team nearing the halfway point of its 15 allowable spring practices.

After the scrimmage, third-year head coach Jeff Choate met with the media to share his takeaways. One of the first things he noted was positives coming from the wide receiver and running back rooms, saying all four wideouts who transferred to Nevada this spring made impact plays. Those newcomers include Donnie Cheers (Southeast Missouri), Jaceon Doss (Towson), WR Gary Givens III (Northern Illinois) and Damien Morgan (Idaho State), who were imported to shore up Nevada’s biggest weak point last season.

“I thought we did some really good things creating explosives,” Choate said. “The negatives from an offense standpoint was just some basic operational things. We had a lot of snaps that were on the ground, perimeter blocking the first time you get the officials out there. We got some holding calls that negated some explosive plays. So, those are things that obviously we need to continue to work on and clean up.

“From a defensive standpoint, like I told them after the scrimmage, ‘There’s the two things that are always going to show up in these. We can’t really simulate live tempo the way it’s going to be when you’re playing football with officials. So, I think the tempo got them a little bit. And then tackling always shows up in a first scrimmage where we’ve been working tag tempo or thud tempo in practice and now we’re out there playing real football.

“A lot of things to clean up on both sides. I felt like there was good competition. I think that guys competed hard. There was some good physical play. “

Entering spring camp, Choate said the Wolf Pack had the same depth chart at quarterback as it ended the 2025 season, with Carter Jones atop the list, veteran backup A.J. Bianco second and UCLA transfer Luke Duncan blending in with the two. Choate said all three quarterbacks did some good things in the scrimmage, which will be used as an evaluation tool as a pecking order begins to take shape after spring break so the quarterbacks could continue to build consistency with playmakers on the depth chart.

Despite some sloppiness, it was an interception-free scrimmage, with turnovers an issue for Nevada last season. The Wolf Pack ranked sixth worst in the nation in passing efficiency, throwing 10 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

“I think that competition raises everybody’s performance,” Choate said. “I felt like the three top guys all did some really, really good things. All three of them were able to lead touchdown drives at one point in time or another during the scrimmage. There was some sloppiness with some issues with the snap, but some of that was on the quarterbacks, right? They gotta be able to catch the freaking ball first and then worry about what the read is. And some of that stuff I’d like to see be a little cleaner in terms of the basic operation stuff.

“I thought those guys missed a couple of reads there, and that’s gonna happen. But by and large, we didn’t throw any interceptions today. I thought that was good they took care of the football, they got out of the pocket when it was appropriate for them to do that and they were able to put the ball in the end zone, which is the goal.”

Choate hired offensive coordinator Brett Bartolone this offseason to help revitalize a stagnant offense that averaged just 17.5 points per game last year, one of the worst marks in program history. Bartolone isn’t new to Nevada after serving as an offensive analyst for the Wolf Pack from 2020-21. Nevada’s offense hasn’t been as potent since then. During that two-year stretch, it averaged 33.7 points per game led by two-time Mountain West offensive player of the year, Carson Strong and playmakers Romeo Doubs, Cole Turner and Toa Taua.

Choate admitted this offseason change was needed to be more effective on offense, which includes throwing the ball more than his offense featured the last two seasons. Bartolone previously ran a spread-passing attack that Nevada is installing this spring.

“I think he’s got a plan and he knows what he wants it to look like,” Choate said of Bartolone. “He’s run this system for a while and he’s been a part of the system for even longer, so he’s gotten bank reps on, ‘Hey, defenses are gonna play us certain ways, and when they do this to us, this is how we can counterpunch that.’ And I think it’s done a good job there. I think there were some things in protection today that we’ve got to get cleaned up. We missed some protections with the backs, but those guys will get better at that as we get more repetitions.”

Nevada is on spring break this week and will continue spring camp next week with its final scrimmage at Churchill County High on April 10.

Source link