Gentle Breeze

Tethered Rides

Discounts available for non profit organizations. 
*Number of passengers varies depending on size and weight.

 

Having that whiz bang of a party and want an extra 'lift'? It's a crowd pleaser at any party, festival or picnic. What a great way to taste the experience of a hot air balloon ride.

With the balloon securely anchored to the ground via a series of high-tensile strength ropes and carabineers, a hot air balloon ascends to a pre-determined height above the ground and crowd to a height of 100' or less. During a tether, passengers climb aboard the aircraft for a short ride. Rides generally last about 5 minutes, including the embarkation, ascent, decent and disembarkation. A general rule of thumb to follow when looking for a suitable site: allow 250' by 250' feet of completely open grass area. When selecting an area, look for trees, towers, antennas, power lines and anything else that may pose a safety risk.

Timing is Everything

Ballooning is very finicky regarding weather. For your safety all balloon activity is only scheduled twice daily – sunrise or two to three hours prior to sunset. Barring any weather systems in the area, the winds tend to be calmer at these times.

Mother Nature

There's times she has a mind of her own. But when we are on her good side here''s a few of the conditions we look for. Please keep in mind the sun is one of the last items we look at in order to make a go or no-go decision.

• Winds should be less than 8 mph on the ground
• No rain/precipitation in a radius of 50 miles of the tether site
• No thunder storms with in a 75 radius of the tether site
• Visibility & ceiling according to the FAA regulations

In addition to the weather safety standards we set for ourselves there are Federal Aviation requirements that we have to adhere to.

Bucks $$$$$

The total package includes up to two hours of tethering plus set up, pack up and travel time*. Tether time starts when the hot inflation starts. That's when the burners are turned on and the balloon begins to inflate. Our tether package starts at $950 for the first two hours while the additional hourly rate drops to a low $500 per hour. Billing for additional hours occurs in 30-minute intervals after the first two hours. A mileage surcharge of $0.89 per mile round trip will incur for all tethering operations that are located outside a 25 mile radius of Lebanon, OH.

Site Inspection

To help clear up any questions about your location, we may recommend a site inspection for tethers and special location launches. There is a minimum charge of $50.00 for all site inspections. A mileage surcharge of $0.69 per mile round trip will incur for all site inspections. This is a seperate charge from the tethering fee. Site inspections are to determine if your choosen location will be suitable and safe for a tether or launch operation. The fee is payable the day of the inspection. 

The Nitty Gritty

How to Book Your Tether

Call or email our office. This way we can exchange information and answer your questions. We will send out a tether agreement for your review and signature. This can be mailed back with your deposit.

Deposits & Cancellations

We require a $100.00 deposit and round trip mileage in order to book a date. This fee applies to the overall total amount due. Balance due at the completion of the tether. A $50.00 non-refundable fee applies for cancellations up to within 48-hours of the event. A $100.00 non-refundable fee applies to cancellations with less than a 48-hours notice. Other options include rescheduling, whereby your deposit carries over.

Cancellations due to Mother Nature

We monitor the weather very closely and require contact names and phone numbers for the day of your event. Weather considerations may require cancellation/rescheduling. If the balloon team has not left their home base $50 of the deposit is retained. The $100 deposit is retained as an appearance fee, if the activity is cancelled on location and the balloon remains un-inflated. A mileage surcharge of $0.89 per mile round trip will incur for all tethering operations.

Early Deflation

If the weather deteriorates to the point that the balloon must be deflated, after a minimum of 30 minutes, half of the total fare is required.