Transformus seeks new location after talks break down with Mills River host

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Transformus, a local version of the popular Burning Man festival, is searching for a new locations after a break down in negotiations with its host site of more than a decade, the Deerfields property in Mills River.

Transformus organizers alerted festival-goers earlier this month that Deerfields had declined to host its summer event this year after a 13-year run. Deerfields is a 900-acre private property about half an hour south of Asheville in Henderson County.

Event organizers report that they’re actively searching for a new location for Transformus, which draws fans of the burn experience. Each summer, Transformus attendees create Mysteria, a place built on “the principles of inclusion, gifting, decommodification, self-reliance, self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation and immediacy,” according to the event’s wiki page.

Two years ago, a 35-year-old man was found dead at the event. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force injuries due to a diving accident.

Here’s the Transformus statement on the change of venue:

The Transformus Leadership Caucus (TLC) is dismayed to have to report to you, the Transformus Community, that Deerfields has broken off negotiations for Transformus 2017. Deerfields has declined to host our 2017 event.

We would like to thank Deerfields for providing Mysteria a home for the past 13 years. We will always have the wonderful memories that we made on that beautiful land.

The TLC, in cooperation with the Board of Directors, is compiling a report covering the details of this year’s negotiations including areas of dispute that led to this unfortunate decision on the part of Deerfields. We will publish the report as quickly as it can be accurately assembled.
An active and determined search is underway for another venue to host the event in 2017 and beyond. We will keep the community informed at each step of the process in finding a new home for Mysteria.

We also welcome any feedback and suggestions as we embark on the next chapter of Mysteria. To ensure that your valuable feedback is not lost in what is sure to be a high volume of communication, please use the following forms for all feedback:
General Feedback
Land Suggestions
Transformus is more than one venue. It is more than one event. It is more than any of us. It is the special community that draws us all together throughout the year. We are all Transformus. You are Transformus.
While we know that this news will be disappointing, we are confident that this is only the end of the beginning of Transformus. We look forward to burning with you for years to come.
With love,
The Transformus Leadership Caucus

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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