Hot air balloons return to Sonoma Valley

After a 30-year absence, hot air ballooning is returning to Sonoma Valley.|

After a 30-year absence, hot air ballooning is returning to Sonoma Valley.

Balloon Pacific, which currently flies out of Calistoga, Healdsburg, Yolo and Lake Tahoe, will be offering flights to the public from Sonoma Skypark on Eighth Street East beginning later this week.

There will be two balloons, one that holds 14 passengers and another that holds seven passengers. Customers can book a single seat or the whole balloon for a private experience. The cost is $219 per person and the flights are 45 to 60 minutes in length. ?Passengers arrive around 5:30 a.m. and the balloon alights at sunrise, around 6:15 a.m. Afterward, there is a post-flight sparking wine toast (“We made it!”)

Balloon Pacific general Manager Brent Reed reached out to Visitors Bureau Interim CEO Gary Saperstein in January about bringing ballooning back to Sonoma. In the ensuing months, Reed also met with City Manager Cathy Capriola, Chamber of Commerce CEO Mark Bodenhamer, Mayor Madolyn Agrimonti and other members of the Sonoma Valley Tourism Improvement District.

“I love this because going up in a hot air balloon is something that everyone can do, all ages and both tourists and locals,” said Saperstein. “It’s an amazing adventure that you rarely get a chance to do in your lifetime, and now you’ll be able to do it right here in Sonoma.”

“What a wonderful addition to an already wonderful place to live and visit,” said Agrimonti.

Back in the 1980s, Sonoma Thunder (now Wine Country Balloons) launched its hot air balloons from a field in El Verano but its pilot, Scott van der Horst, said it was difficult to consistently fly in the Valley without crossing into the city’s no-fly zone.

Balloons must not cross into the city limits thanks to a city ordinance (Chapter 9.69) which prohibits the launching and landing aircraft at places other than airports.

Capriola has met with Reed and formed the impression that Balloon Pacific “care a lot about safety.”

As for balloons crossing into the “no-fly zone,” she said that she didn’t anticipate any problems.

“If the wind is blowing north, they won’t take off,” she said.

Reed hopes for year-round flights and the company will be taking reservations seven days a week for sunrise departures, weather permitting. If the wind doesn’t cooperate, passengers will have the option of rescheduling or flying at an alternate Balloon Pacific location.

“When that occurs, guests will be transported [at no cost] to and from the other flight location by passenger bus,” said Reed.

This week will be was a soft opening for the new ballooning enterprise at Sonoma Skypark but starting next week, Balloon Pacific will be open for business and accepting reservations.

“I think this is an opportunity for Sonoma to offer a different experience to residents and tourists and because the flights take off so early, hopefully the passengers will stay in town and enjoy our community,” said Capriola.

“We are excited to partner with the local community and with businesses in Sonoma,” said Reed.

Sonoma Skypark is a privately-owned, public use airport with 60 aviation enthusiast owners.

“We had a really great response from the Skypark members,” said Reed. “We were blown away by their enthusiasm.”

Reed said that the company is currently finishing up the creation of a check-in area, office space and a flight lounge where passengers will have “pre-and post-flight experiences.”

Shane Robinson has almost 30 years of piloting experience and he will be the primary pilot for the balloon trips that take off out of Sonoma Skypark. He stressed the safety of balloon trips.

“Accidents are extremely rare,” said Robinson, who said that most important for safety is excellent weather and experienced pilots.

“The most common thing I hear from passengers is within minutes of taking off is, ‘What was I so worried about?’” he said.

“The experience is going to be amazing,” he said. “We will get views of the Valley, Carneros, Petaluma and the Bay. On a clear day we’ll be able to see San Francisco and maybe even as far as the Sierra Mountains.”

Robinson has flown balloons over the world, including in Africa last winter, and says he was the first pilot to fly over the Taj Mahal.

In Tahoe, Balloon Pacific has an aircraft carrier which enables its balloons to be launched from the center of the Lake.

“Even having flown all these places, I have to say that the wine country area is truly special,” said Robinson.

Reed said that Balloon Pacific is the oldest ballooning company in Napa County, and that owner and Napa native Gabe Gundling now has an active stable of 26 to 29 balloons. He also owns and operates a balloon-maintenance company with a broad customer base.

Bodenhamer said he’s going to go up the first chance he gets.

“I haven’t been up in a balloon since I was young but I’m excited to do it again,” he said. “I think it’s a cool way to experience Sonoma Valley.”

Email Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.

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