A Brief History of Burningmelon

Three friends from Chicago made plans to return to Burning Man and camp with a few other mutual friends. While at a thrift store picking up playa fashions, they found a large beach umbrella decorated with a watermelon pattern. It was glorious, it was impractical, they were certain it wouldn't last 10 minutes on the playa, so naturally it had to be bought and dragged ~2000 miles to Black Rock City. They placed the umbrella at the front of their camp and it became the camp's marker: "we're by the watermelon umbrella." The umbrella survived, and on the drive back the three friends made plans to return next year.Brötermeløn

The umbrella and three friends returned in 2010 to form Brötermeløn, a placed camp of 19 people on a 50x100 plot.

Othermelon

The umbrella and three friends returned in 2011 to form Othermelon, a placed camp of 20 people on a 150x100 plot.

Melondrome

The umbrella and three friends returned in 2012 to form Melondrome, a placed camp of 35 people on a 150x100 plot.

Melonstone National Park

The umbrella and three friends returned in 2013 to form Melonstone National Park, a camp of 37 people that did not get placement because someone missed the application deadline, whoops!

Fool's Melon

The umbrella and one of the three friends returned in 2014--the other two embarked on a incredibly noble but demanding multi-year project to make the world a better place. The camp was 58 people on a 150x100 plot.

L melon O P

The umbrella and one friend returned in 2015 to form L melon O P, a placed camp of 64 people on a 200x150 plot.

Melon of Troy

The umbrella and two friends returned in 2016 to form Melon of Troy, a placed camp of 88 people on a 200x150 plot.

Octomelon

The umbrella and one friend returned in 2017 to form Octomelon a placed camp of 79 people on a 200x200 plot.

Planned Melonhood

The umbrella and one friend returned in 2018 to form Planned Melonhood, a placed camp of 80 people on a 200x150 plot.

Melón Rouge

The umbrella and one friend returned in 2019 to form Melón Rouge, a placed camp of 96 people on a 200x150 plot.