Visiting the Black Rock City Temple Safely and Respectfully: A Guide with Estate Planning Tips

The Temple in Black Rock City is a shared place for remembrance and connection on the ancestral lands of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. Honor that stewardship by showing up prepared and mindful.

What can I bring and where can I place it?

Temple offerings can be posters, photos, letters, or small items. You may place them on open surfaces inside or outside, up to ten feet high. Do not cover earlier tributes. Bring your own attachment tools, such as a stapler or sturdy tape. If you need height, use a free standing ladder. Leaning ladders are not allowed.

Is photography allowed inside the Temple?

Treat offerings as private acts of love. Photograph only with permission.

What about flags and symbols?

Flags and symbols often carry spiritual or political meaning. Diverse expression is welcome, and respect is required. Damaging or removing someone else’s offering is never acceptable.

Can I bring or scatter ashes?

The Tribe has asked that cremated human remains not be placed or scattered at the Temple or on the playa. You may bring ashes briefly as part of a personal moment, then remove them before dawn on Sunday. Cremated pet remains are permitted.

Safety and Sunday closure:

Do not climb the structure. No fire, smoking, vaping, smudging, candles, or incense. The Temple closes at sunrise on the Sunday before Labor Day to prepare the perimeter for the evening burn. After closure, Guardians may place offerings on your behalf at the perimeter. The burn is typically around 8 pm PT.

Temple practices that help everyone:

Share the space with kindness, give room to those in grief, and accept the full range of emotions. Protect the structure, seek help from Guardians, and leave no trace.

How estate planning supports a meaningful visit:

The values you honor at the Temple can live in your plan at home. If this space matters to you, consider:
Memorial instructions: what you want shared, where, and by whom.
Final disposition choices that respect local rules and Indigenous guidance.
A will or revocable living trust naming fiduciaries and clarifying who may steward photos, letters, or flags in your honor.
Health care directives and HIPAA releases so loved ones can support you if you fall ill on the road.
A durable power of attorney for travel logistics and urgent expenses.
Digital asset directions for memorial posts and account access.
An ethical will or letter of instruction to pass stories and values.

Kierman Law can help you align heartfelt rituals with clear legal instructions, so family and friends have guidance and fewer hard decisions in the moment.

Call my office today at (480) 719-7333 to schedule your estate planning review, or visit our website at https://kiermanlaw.com