Ladies, gentlemen, and those who identify as either, both, or neither: Great Lakes Experimental Arts, Board of Directors is thrilled to announce a major milestone in the history of Lakes of Fire!

We bought land!

As in: Our land. Permanent land. Dream-building, future-shaping, art-enabling land.

On February 13th, the Board signed closing documents for property in Lake County, Michigan, securing 80 acres for Lakes of Fire to call Home. The property includes a ~2,000 square foot house, and so many possibilities for our community to grow. The land has been well preserved with conservation practices and has an ideal mix of hardwoods, some evergreens, open meadows, rolling hills, cedar swamps, and a winding creek flowing through a piece of it. There is even a spring-fed pond (with a fun shape) we’re looking forward to naming with community help.

Owning land means:

• We can make permanent infrastructure improvements.
• We can create permanent art installations.
• Instead of paying rent, we are now able to invest in the property, adding and improving with every event cycle.
• As we pay down the mortgage, more and more funds will be available for art grants, community outreach, and anything else the future may hold!
• And most importantly, this solidifies our community in a deep, tangible way.

Big change can feel uncomfortable. That’s fair. But we’re approaching this moment with optimism, joy, and a whole lot of excitement. This is us planting roots.

We know you’re going to have a lot of questions, and we’re working with all the department leads to ensure the Lakes of Fire 2026 event is ready for everyone to come Home July 15 to July 19. Some answers to those questions are below, with more information coming soon.

Wait, we bought land? What about Lucky Lake?

• Yes, we bought land! And yes, Lucky Lake has been home since 2011. We’re deeply grateful to Don and Sue and those at Lucky Lake who have welcomed us and supported Lakes of Fire for over a decade and 13 events there.

That said, we’ve always dreamed of a permanent home. One we could use intentionally, steward long-term, and grow into. Owning land gives us a direct say in the future of the event with the ability to shape the land and add infrastructure, including permanent art installations. We’re excited to work with you to make the site unmistakably, weirdly, beautifully ours.

Is the land developed? What about water and electricity?

• Because 2026 is our Year Zero with the land, that means we are working with raw space. The property has access to electricity, water and sewer, and internet, but currently it does not extend beyond the building on the property. DPW, Mobility, and other departments are working together to get more information out to the community about how this will impact your overall experience.

Translation: Plan for a more rustic year.

More rustic? Is there a survival guide ready for us?

• More rustic, yes. And we’re working on the survival guide with that in mind.

A more rustic experience means we need to lean on the radical self-reliance and communal effort principles. Leads are working on a living document of the survival guide for people to review in late March or early April. It will be updated as we get more information and we are able to spend some time on the land after snow melts. Bookmark the website, (lakesoffire.org) so you can reference it, along with the FAQs that will be updated as more come in.

Rustic sounds rough for accessibility. What about people who need assistance?

• We are committed to maintaining an accessible and inclusive Burn for our community. Our mobility and accessibility team is preparing to get on the ground as soon as possible to determine how to ensure Lakes of Fire is ready for everyone in our community. If you’d like a voice in the process, reach out to RIDE and Mobility to volunteer. Ride@lakesoffire.org mobility@lakesoffire.org

Does this change how art and the effigy are handled? What about placement?

• Art grants and the effigy process are unchanged. We’re still going to be spreading as much art and camps around our property as possible, and owning the land means we can do permanent installations now. Art Hub is working with their grant recipients to get information out about these changes. Placement is also planning out the map, including the effigy location.

We know this isn’t going to answer all your questions. Make sure to bookmark the FAQ website, as that will have the most up-to-date information and will be updated frequently. The Survival Guide will be shared soon, too, and will also be updated as we have answers.

The entirety of Lakes of Fire leadership, including Leads, Event Coordinators, and Board members are excited for this move and deeply proud of this step. Everything that you have done as the community to bring us to this historic moment is appreciated. Stay tuned for future volunteer opportunities. Make sure you’re signed up for the Lakes Letter.

We can’t wait to welcome you Home!

🔥 July 15–19, 2026 🔥