This photo posted by the Bureau of Land Management from Burning Man notes that despite high winds that have hit the event, "someone's sense of humor was still intact."

High winds destroyed the infamous "Orgy Dome" at Burning Man, organizers said, putting a stop to one of the event's most talked-about attractions.

Powerful winds have repeatedly whipped through the 80,000-person Black Rock City in northern Nevada, slowing arrivals and blowing over multiple structures. In a statement posted to social media, the Orgy Dome's organizers said the wind "wrecked our structure." The Orgy Dome is a private space where couples can explore their sexuality with strangers.

"We hope to be able to offer some workshops if possible but what remains of the dome is beyond repair," the group wrote in the Aug. 24 post, and shared video of the tattered tent remains and visible metal support ribs.

Burning Man is an annual event in the desert in which an estimated 70,000 people build an entire city from scratch over the course of the week ending Labor Day. Known for attendees who wear colorful outfits — or none at all — the event draws people interested in exploring art, music, and free expression in a largely unregulated environment.

Mainstream news coverage of Burning Man invariably mentions the Orgy Dome, held inside a cavernous tent-like structure that features both mattresses and air conditioning for participants who are age-screened and provide explicit consent. Attendance is generally limited to couples, and solo men are generally not permitted.

Though the Burning Man event has a reputation for drug use and nudity, dozens of children attend each year.

The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees the event, along with local sheriff's deputies. BLM workers earlier in the event shared a photo to social media of an overturned port-a-potty with fake witch legs sticking out, a reference to when Dorothy's house landed on and killed the Wicked Witch of the East in "The Wizard of Oz."

Weather forecasts indicate the challenging weather that hit Black Rock City may continue through Aug. 26, with showers and thunderstorms predicted. The 2023 Burning Man event turned into a massive mud fest that temporarily halted departures.

This year, a USA TODAY Network reporter covering the event was stuck in traffic for 19 hours starting on Aug. 24. Entry waits on Aug. 25 were seven hours long after a rainstorm temporarily halted admissions to the event.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Burning Man 'Orgy Dome' destroyed by high winds as the event began

Reporting by Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect