You may remember those “kegger” events of your youth. A few high school kids got together somewhere out in the brush. Somebody cranked up the music on the eight-track. Along the way, some local sheriff’s deputy turned up and made everyone pour their beer out on the ground and sent them home, tails between legs.
Out in Utah, BLM officials recently got dubbed major party-poopers when they shut down “The biggest party Utah has ever seen”—before party-goers even turned up.
Ah, social media! The party’s “organizers” used multiple social media posts to try and draw in participants—and their money—by advertising musical groups, DJs, a huge bonfire, and “an insane light show.” For $20 partiers paid through a website, they could come and have access to the stage.
BLM stops party—You need a permit
The party-throwers didn’t count on BLM law enforcers seeing their social media posts. Nor did they factor in that when you want to throw a party on government land, you need a permit.
When the first of the party-goers turned up, they didn’t find singers and instruments—they found BLM officers. No stage. No signs. Just cops.
It wasn’t the first party put-down. Back in March, organizers promoted a big event on the Salt Flats—again by social media. In that case, the BLM was proactive, letting the erstwhile event folks know that bonfires and the Salt Flats weren’t compatible. If they wanted to party, the fire was “out,” and a permit was “in.”
Permit? Permit? Who needs one of those? The group simply changed the location, publishing the geographic coordinates to their followers. The BLM reckons hundreds or perhaps even thousands would turn up near Kelton, Utah, to the relocated site.
BLM officials and other law enforcement types didn’t buy tickets. They just showed up before the show, which “would have been” last Friday.
“Don’t want to rain on anybody’s parade”
“Our hope is to contact the event organizers to educate them on why this event is illegal, why they can’t continue, and then issue the necessary charges associated with that,” said BLM West Desert District Chief Law Enforcement Ranger Camm Stephenson in a story carried by ksltv.com.
“We don’t want to rain on anybody’s parade, but we do want to make sure if people are going to do things like this, they do it the right way,” he said. “[Here], there’s very limited resources for things like medical emergencies, fires, traffic accidents. The roadways in and out are not equipped to handle the kind of traffic that may be attracted to this type of an event as well.”
Did those folks who want to encourage people to do things right get any respect? It wasn’t long after the first party-goers got turned back that a new post appeared on the party promotion site. This time it was a picture of some of the BLM officers, framed with a caption that read, “#whosnitched.”
Undeterred, the rowdies then advised partiers that the site for the big shindig had been changed again. Those who wanted to come should send a private message to get the new location. Duh—do ya think that will stop the cops?
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##RVT1204b
At Scadden Wash near Quartzsite this February a convocation of school bus conversions, van conversions and other like minded folk gathered for the 2025 SkooliPalooza. It was a fun affair with some interesting takes on {especially) school bus conversions for full timers. There was even a mini-midway that featured a Cirque de Soleil like silk dance. Pretty well organized and respectful group except one pirate bus that need desperately to share their personal choice of loud music and dj skills? with everybody else.
Foiled Again! Social media users just don’t get that law enforcement officers are social too.
People aren’t smart, in my area guys go on a social media site. Arrange to pay prostitutes with drugs and money for sex. When they open the alleged prostitutes door there is a female cop with hand cuffs waiting.
Having worked with BLM to put on motorcycle races there are many hoops to jump through and fees to pay. I’m glad they shut this down.
I was under the impression that Utah is an LDS state and Utah citizens don’t drink, smoke or participate in other vice activities. Someone should take pictures of all the Utah license plates in Jackpot and Wendover casino parking lots….especially on weekends.
Bring it on…facts are facts.
When I was in Salt Lake City, the clubs didn’t have booze, but you were able to bring your own. That was about forty years ago.
Utahn here. I think the LDS population in Utah is around 65 percent. That leaves over a million Utahns that are not LDS. I’m not sure what the point of your comment is.
No one does 🤣
Not all Utah citizens are LDS. SO MANY aren’t. There is so much BLM lands in Utah and parties always happened in Moab.
Just when I thought you couldn’t say something dumber in a comment….. BOOM.
🤯😂🤣😂 Love it!!
Thank you, Russ and Tina, for the news. I guess the organizers are not particularly intelligent if they don’t understand that social media isn’t confined to party-goers. Have a great day and safe travels!