Our typical flight lasts approximately one hour, give or take a few minutes depending on landing site opportunities. The whole experience from meeting your pilot at the launch site to post-flight refreshments can last from 2 to 3 hours.
We typically fly within 500 feet above the surface, however, sometimes we fly higher to catch winds that help get us to our final destination. When possible, we try to do some contour flying, which is flying just above the treetops, which allows for spectacular views of the surrounding landscapes as well as wildlife.
There may or may not be others joining you on your flight. It just depends on the reservations that come in for that day, the availability of additional pilots, and the balloon capacity. If we have other people book a flight for the same day as your reservation, depending on how many are in their group and in yours, then we may take our largest balloon (with a capacity of up to 6 people, or up to 1000lbs of total passenger weight), but if no one else books on that day, then we may take one of our smaller balloons that will accommodate 2 to 4 passengers. If you wanted to guarantee that you would get a private or VIP flight for 1 or 2 people, then it is an additional $100 per person to guarantee that you fly as a private party. Please give us a call if you want to reserve a VIP private flight.
Our bookings calendar is preset to 5:00 a.m., as the most common time that we meet during our flying season, but sunrise times change by a few minutes each day, so check our sunrise calendar below to see when you might be meeting your pilot and crew. We will plan to meet you about 15 minutes prior to the sunrise time. We will contact you the day before your reserved flight to confirm your flight plans with meeting time and location.
We recommend wearing long pants and closed-toe shoes - no flip-flops or sandals. We also recommend that you bring a jacket and dress in layers, similar to the way you would dress if you were going on a hike. It is always better to be dressed warmer than you think you should dress, than it is to be at flying altitude and wish you would have brought that jacket. You can always remove a layer of clothing during a flight and put it in the basket if you get too warm. We also recommend that you check what local temperatures will be on the morning of your flight or ask your pilot the night before the flight about temperatures in the morning so you can be prepared to dress for warmth and comfort.
Most people who are afraid of heights are just fine and no longer afraid within a few minutes of leaving the ground. We've only had one passenger in 10 years that we landed early for due to the fear of heights. If at any point, you decide you want to end your flight early, just let your pilot know and they will land the balloon as soon as reasonably practicable. You will still be responsible for the total cost of your flight, but we can get you back on the ground early if necessary.
This is the combined weight of the passengers in your group, for which you are paying. Do not include the weight of the pilot.
You will receive a phone call the day before your flight with the exact time and location of your meeting. Your pilot and crew will meet you at the agreed-upon time at either the Hot Springs Airport (located at 27858 US Highway 385, Hot Springs, SD 57747 or the Mammoth Site Parking lot (located at 1800 US-18 BYP, Hot Springs, SD 57747). The forecast winds will determine which location is preferred. If we have winds out of the West, we will likely meet at the Mammoth Site. If we have winds out of the East, we will likely meet at the Hot Springs Airport. Again, your pilot will contact you the day before your flight with this information. Once you have completed your flight and you have landed, the ground crew will pick you up and bring you back to the launch site meeting location, where you parked your car.
You will again be contacted by your pilot approximately one hour before your flight, confirming flight plans and time, either by text message or other means discussed by your pilot the day before your flight. Sometimes forecasts change overnight, and flights are cancelled due to unforeseen and unfavorable weather. If the weather is good, you will plan to meet your pilot as discussed. Once you arrive at the launch site, you will be asked to sign a liability waiver prior to boarding the hot air balloon (unless you have already filled out an electronic waiver). Our insurance company requires all passengers to sign liability waivers prior to flying.
If the forecast weather is not favorable for conducting a flight, we will need to cancel or reschedule the flight to a mutually agreed upon date. If we are not able to reschedule the flight, then you will be reimbursed your $100 deposit.
We recommend that you book your flight at the beginning of your stay in the Black Hills because sometimes the first date that is chosen may not have good weather for ballooning and you may have an opportunity to reschedule to another day if your schedule allows for it. If the date you wanted to fly is unavailable on our calendar, please give us a call and we can put you on our waiting list in case someone cancels their flight.
WE ASK, "If you were to jump off a kitchen chair, would you experience pain somewhere in your body (knee, back, neck, or other problems)?" The reason we ask this is because sometimes we have soft and gentle landings and other times we have faster, sporty or windy landings. If you do not have pain in your body when jumping off your kitchen chair, then most likely you will not have a problem with our sporty landing, which can have about the same amount of impact or jarring. Also, we cannot fly anyone who is pregnant or has had recent surgeries or has any medical issues. If you have concerns about flying with us, we encourage you to call us to discuss your concerns before booking your flight.
That is a great question!! First of all, hot air balloons are not cheap. Just like owning a boat, a jet ski, or a snowmobile, there are costs of the equipment. Then, on top of the costs of the equipment, we have to bring our balloons to an FAA Certified Repair Station to be inspected annually, which costs several hundred dollars per balloon. On top of that, we also have to have insurance on each balloon, which costs thousands of dollars per year, not to mention propane, gas for vehicles, and staffing. Then, finally, we have to have our balloons registered with the FAA, since they are aircraft, which is an additional cost per balloon. AND since we live in the Midwest and have colder winter climates, it makes our flying season primarily in the summertime. SO, if you want a less expensive balloon ride, we recommend flying in Arizona, New Mexico, or anywhere down south in the warmer climates where they can fly all year long and can offset all the costs of owning a hot air balloon ride business. BUT if you want to experience the breathtaking views of the Black Hills of South Dakota, then we recommend that you spend a little more with us and take the adventure of a lifetime!
YES! Since you decided to take the time to visit our FAQ page and didn't call us to ask the same questions that everyone else has, you saved us time, so we will save you money!! Use PROMO CODE: FAQ2025 at checkout to receive $40 off your booking! And thanks for reading our FAQ's! 😉
Other discounts we offer are:
$50 off for active military or veterans (must bring proof of military or veteran status). PROMO CODE: Military
$100 off your booking for groups of 4 or more people. PROMO CODE: Group
