Prepare to lift off in one of the most massive hot air balloons in the country. Drift above the rolling landscapes of Jo Daviess County and the historic Galena countryside while taking in views of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin from your 3,000-foot-high perch.
Most passengers don't realize how peaceful and majestic a hot air balloon flight can be. Because the balloon travels with the wind, gliding through the air at various elevations, the only time you feel the breeze is when changing altitude or wind speeds.
At times, you may skirt through the trees, soar to several thousand feet, and even skim the gondola in Lake Galena. All of these are common occurrences and part of the full ballooning experience.
All of our flights originate from Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, located six miles outside of Galena, Illinois. We have several different resort locations to launch our balloons from, all of which provide a serene experience of being suspended in the open air, as well as a magnificent view of the world below!
A hot air balloon has no built-in mechanism for steering, therefore uses the wind direction to drive itself. At various altitudes, the wind speed and direction are different, so your pilots use this to "steer" the balloon to the best possible landing spot, typically a large field or backyard, somewhere between five and ten miles from the launch spot.
Upon landing, you will return to the launch spot for a champagne celebration.
We offer flights, seven days a week, May through October. Weekdays, we offer sunset flights, while weekends we offer both sunrise and sunset. Our meeting times will vary as sunrise and sunset times change with the seasons.
From six to 106, all are welcome!
Hot air balloons do not have seats; therefore, you must be able to stand for at least one hour, as well as hold yourself in the basket when landing.
We do not recommend flights for those under six years old. The basket height is approximately four feet tall, which makes seeing over the side impossible for young children. Because safety guidelines do not permit you to hold your child during the flight, it's best to wait until they are old enough to enjoy the flight too. Staring at the inside of a wicker basket for an hour can't be the most enjoyable activity for your little one.
We are unable to fly anyone pregnant or thinks they may be pregnant. A baby is a special little person - please wait until after the baby is born to fly with us!
