Black Rock City Infrastructure

On Playa Resources

Burning Man takes place in Black Rock City, a full-fledged, thriving (albeit temporary) metropolis. Like any other city, it has essential infrastructure and community services to keep it functioning.

Ice Sales

As a matter of public safety, ice is sold at “Arctica” in Center Camp and our 3 and 9 o’clock plazas. Monday - Saturday hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.-6 p.m. and Exodus Monday in Center Camp only from 9 a.m. to noon. All proceeds from ice sales are donated to support community groups in Gerlach, Empire, Lovelock, Reno, and San Francisco.

Information

You can direct questions to the knowledgeable Playa Info volunteers in Center Camp. Hours are generally 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise posted. (If someone is answering questions after hours, believe them at your own risk.) Check out the white boards for the latest city info and answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Volunteering: The V-Spot

If you want to broaden your participation in the event through volunteering, there are ample opportunities. Visit the V-Spot adjacent to Playa Info in Center Camp to learn more about how to volunteer.

The Press & Media Mecca

Commercial use of all imagery taken at Burning Man is forbidden without express permission. All professional photographers with intent to publicly distribute a Burning Man image (including editorial or gallery use) must check in at Media Mecca, located in Center Camp. Pre-event or post-event photographers should register at: www.burningman.com/press, contact the hotline at 415-TO-FLAME, or write: press@burningman.com for permission. ALL users of motion-capturing video and film cameras must complete a registration, whether they are to be used for personal or professional purposes. (Still cameras strictly for personal use don’t require registration.) Those filming or videotaping for personal use must sign a Personal Use Agreement, which indicates the footage will not be professionally distributed. This Agreement can be obtained and turned in at the Greeters Station, Playa Info, and Black Rock Ranger Outposts in the Civic Plazas.

Burning Man’s Affiliated Non-Profits

To learn more about the Burning Man Project, Black Rock Arts Foundation, Black Rock Solar & Burners Without Borders, visit Everywhere Lane. You can find Everywhere Lane listed on the city map you'll get when you enter, or look it up at Playa Info.

Finding People & Info On Theme Camps & Events

Use the Playa Info computers to register yourself and your camp location and find your friends. You can exchange messages, find and post theme camp locations and event schedules, ride shares, and other services and information via the online Directory network (note: there is no Internet access available via these computers). The big BRC map shows public theme camp locations, and bulletin boards are always available for artful posting of events, messages, and general information.

Lost & Found

Mark all of your possessions with your name, phone number or email address, and camp location. Take a picture of your contact info and leave the image on your camera. If you find something in BRC, turn it in to Playa Info so that it might be returned to its rightful owner. After the event, whether you have lost or found something, email lostandfound@burningman.com.

Airport & Pilot Policies

On the outskirts of BRC a temporary airport (code 88NV) provides transportation, aerial photography, and performance art. Operating hours are 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and safety briefings are mandatory for pilots making multiple flights. Charter flights need permits. Visit www.portofentry.org for info. Additional questions? Email airport@burningman.com before mid-August.

Public Burn Pyres

For those who have larger items to burn, use the Public Burn Pyres found on the open playa at the ends the 3, 6, & 9 o’clock streets, about 100 ft. out from the Esplanade. Burn Pyres are the only places where open fires may occur. Check your map or Playa Info for all locations. The burning of toxic and/or synthetic materials such as couches, stuffed furniture, rugs, PVC, etc. is prohibited by law; you are responsible for taking these things home. Burn only clean untreated wood or paper and nothing over-sized that will spill ash or burning debris onto the playa. Don’t overload the Public Burn Pyres. If it’s usable lumber, donate it. (See “GOT WOOD?”). Have tools on hand to break down and cut up larger pieces of wood or take them home to reuse them for your structure next year.

Center Camp Café

The Café is our community gathering space. Coffee, tea and other beverages are for sale there, and the proceeds from these sales help fund the construction and maintenance of the Café structure itself, one of the largest tensile structures in the world.

Recycle Camp

Monday through Sunday, 9a.m.-5p.m. you can stop by to crush and recycle your aluminum cans at Recycle Camp. Be sure to come by before they close Sunday evening! Recycle Camp can be found at 6:00 and Rod’s Road, just behind the Center Camp Café.

Internet Access

Burning Man does not provide public internet access. However, there is a participant-created and supported public WIFI cloud based out of Center Camp that is repeated in the 3 and 9 o’clock Civic Plazas. It is NOT necessarily a reliable or strong signal, and you should not depend on it to serve as your critical internet lifeline. If you need to be assured of internet access, bring a satellite phone.

Telephone Service

Cell phones do not work in the Black Rock Desert. Limited cell phone service and public telephones are available in the town of Gerlach, 12 miles away. Bring a calling card and take the BRC Shuttle to town. Otherwise, a satellite phone works fine on playa.

Shuttle Bus Service

Movement of cars or airplanes poses safety and environmental hazards, and protection of the environment is of paramount importance to Burning Man. Therefore, casual traffic in and out of Black Rock City is strongly discouraged. Participants who leave and return by personal means will be required to pay a $20 per person fee. For those eager to go into “town,” the strongly-encouraged alternative to driving yourself is our community shuttle that travels between Black Rock City and the towns of Gerlach and Empire. The $10 tickets and the shuttle schedule are available at the shuttle ticket booth located on the 6:30 side of Rod’s Road & 6 o’clock. You must be sober, dressed appropriately for town, carrying your event ticket stub and wearing the wristband issued to you when you purchase a bus ticket. Shuttles run every two hours from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.