Transformation: 1996 to 2000

1996: Helco

One thing most will agree upon. 1996 was a significant year for Burning Man. People died. John Law quit. The event moved locations, returning to its home two years later. The population again had doubled, now to 8,000 and tickets cost $35.

Bruce Sterling wrote a cover story for Wired Magazine (see insert), HBO and PBS also covered the event. It was the year of the first official theme: Inferno. Love it or hate it, 1996 was an inflection point for Burning Man.

1997: Mysteria

1997 was the year that almost wasn’t for Burning Man. The event moved from the Black Rock Desert to Hualapai flat and the Fly Ranch. To find more about this move read the Spring Newsletter article “Back to the Beach.” There were political problems with Washoe County, and a fee for fire and sheriff’s protection was levied at $350,000. Press reports of County Commissioner meetings made it seem as if the event wouldn’t happen, ultimately affecting ticket sales. To make matters worse, 100% of gate ticket sales were impounded at the gate by the sheriff’s office to cover those costs. They never made their take and were onsite until Saturday afternoon. When the dust settled, there were only 10,000 participants and Burning Man was $200,000 in debt.

1998: The Nebulous Entity

Burning Man returns to Black Rock Desert, this time with numbered streets and signs on every corner. The population reaches 15,000, art continues to grow in size and complexity. Many consider 1998 to be a strong year, despite weather issues.