Burning Man’s Orgy Dome Destroyed by ‘Hurricane-Force’ Windstorm as Desert Braces for Predicted Rain

Organizers of Burning Man’s infamous Orgy Dome have announced that the space will not open during the event this week following damage by heavy winds over the weekend.

“Our build team worked so hard this past week to *erect* our lovely space,” reads a post published Sunday by the official Orgy Dome Instagram account. “Unfortunately, the winds yesterday undid all that labor and wrecked our structure. We are still here and thankfully safe, we hope to gift the playa some workshops and will keep you updated.”

This post followed another one from earlier the same day announcing that “what remains of the dome is beyond repair.”

An annual tradition at Burning Man, the Orgy Dome is a space where, its organizers say, “couples and moresomes can escape the dust and heat of Black Rock City. We pride ourselves in creating a sex-positive, consensual space for couples and moresomes to play during their stay at Black Rock City. The Orgy Dome is a safe, inclusionary, and exploratory environment. All couples and moresomes who are adults are welcome in the Dome – straight, lesbian, gay, bi, polyamorous and monogamous. We welcome the combination of love in all forms.”

The Orgy Dome is among several installations and projects that were destroyed or damaged following a Sunday windstorm that happened at the Burning Man site, located in the remote Black Rock Desert of northern Nevada. Other reported damage includes a 50 foot tall art installation called Black Cloud that was created by a team of artists from Ukraine and which was meant to serve as a symbol of freedom for the country amid its ongoing war while also warning about the dangers of a potential World War III.

According to a press release from the creators of Black Cloud, “After 5:30 p.m. [on Aug. 24] a sudden hurricane-force wind swept across the desert. Despite the calculations, the installation withstood only the first fifteen minutes. A powerful gust tore the structure apart from within, and the storm destroyed Black Cloud completely.”

“Even though on paper and by calculations it was supposed to withstand even such a storm, reality proved otherwise,” Vitaliy Deynega, the general producer of Black Cloud, wrote on his Facebook page. “It held against the wind for the first fifteen minutes, and then tore apart in the middle—the storm burst inside and destroyed it completely.” Organizers note that they plan to reassemble Black Cloud in locations throughout Europe, with dates and locations to be announced.

While high winds and white-out level dust storms are common during any given year at Burning Man, the hurricane-force winds on Saturday, when gusts reached up to 50 mph, are far less frequent. Widely circulated videos from the storm show these winds toppling tents and shade structures while raising massive dust clouds.

The forecast Tuesday (Aug. 26) also predicts a 51% chance of rain and thunderstorms, conditions that could further complicate matters on a site that’s sensitive to rain.

The windstorm marks the third time in the last four years that Burners have faced particularly challenging weather conditions. In 2022, temperatures reached up to 106 degrees, creating what was for many the hottest Burning Man in memory. Then in 2023, nearly an inch of rain fell on the site, creating expanses of thick mud that required organizers to put a no-driving order in place. The single gate to the event was closed, no more Burners were let in, and those already on-site were advised not to leave.

Burning Man is happening now through Sept. 1.