Hot Air and a Wicker Basket

A tisket, a tasket

Hot Air and a Wicker Basket

by Heidi Bell Gease

There are lots of ways to see the Black Hills: from the back of a motorcycle, through a window of the 1880 Train, from the vantage point of Black Elk Peak, but for many people, nothing beats floating above the trees and lakes in a hot air balloon.

“It’s a different kind of sensation,” said Keely Mahony, who owns Black Hills Balloons with her husband Damien. “It’s just so surreal and beautiful that I think you kind of forget that you’re in the air, in a weird way.”

Black Hills Balloons has taken thousands of people flying over the Hills since Steve Bauer launched the business in the mid-1980s. He decided to sell it a few years ago, just as the Mahony’s were tiring of their fasterpaced life in Orlando, Florida.

“We thought we wanted a different kind of life,” said Keely, who was spending long hours at her job in marketing with Hard Rock International. Damien, a native of Ireland, was managing Orlando Balloon Rides and flying the largest hot air balloon in the U.S.

The couple had vacationed in the Black Hills several times before. “Damien fell in love with the area and with the flying here,” Keely said. “It’s really challenging but really beautiful.”

The transition seemed meant to be. The Mahonys have brought new energy to the 30-year-old business, and Bauer has had the opportunity to stay on as a pilot without worrying about the details.

Weather permitting, Black Hills Balloons offers flights each morning at sunrise from May 1 through October 31. You can also arrange for an off-season flight if conditions allow.

Balloons lift off at sunrise, when the weather is most stable. Warm updrafts and winds often pick up on summer afternoons, and those

Photo courtesy of: Black Hills Balloons

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are things balloon pilots prefer to avoid. “We just want to make sure we have the safest flight possible,” Keely said.

Black Hills Balloons is based out of Custer. Customers generally meet their pilot and crew about 30 minutes before sunrise in Custer and then travel to the launch site, where they receive a quick briefing from the pilot.

It takes about 20 minutes for the balloon to inflate, at which time the pilot signals passengers to board the gondola.

Flights last approximately one hour and end with a traditional champagne toast. Depending on weather and available landing sites, balloons may travel just above the treetops or a few thousand feet in the air.

That may sound scary, but Keely said the feeling of balloon flight is unique because the craft moves with the wind. If you closed your eyes during a launch, “you could be 300 or 400 feet in the air before you even noticed the movement,” she said. That may be why people who don’t like heights often do fine on a balloon flight.

It can’t hurt that the scenery below is spectacular.

“The valleys in the Custer area are just so nice for flying,” Keely said. The balloons frequently fly over Custer State Park, where passengers may spot buffalo, antelope, mountain goats and other wildlife from a unique vantage point. “I think Custer is this special little place. We have some perfect flying conditions a lot of the days.”

The weather doesn’t cooperate every day. If it’s foggy or rainy at sunrise, balloons are grounded

for the day. Tourists who want to fly are encouraged to pick a day early in their stay so they can reschedule if necessary.

Local residents often book flights for special occasions: birthdays, anniversaries, proposals, etc. For others, ballooning is a ‘bucket list’ item. Black Hills Balloons operates three balloons capable of carrying between four and 12 people, allowing people to share the experience with friends. The Mahonys recommend booking at least two weeks out but if you plan on flying with a large group (4 or more), give yourself a month to be sure you get the day you want.

Since the Mahonys bought the business they’ve built a stronger online presence and tapped into social media to spread the word about their flights. It’s also possible now to book your flight online, although the couple is happy to visit with anyone who has questions or fears.

For Keely, one of the best parts of the business is watching first-time fliers take in the whole experience. “It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “Everybody’s here to have a good time. You can’t beat that, right?”

A flight costs $295 per adult and $245 for children ages 4 to 12. Pilots like to say that the cost of your second flight often includes the price of a balloon and a pilot’s license.

You can also visit with Black Hills Balloons pilots and watch a launch at several special events during the summer, including Gold Discovery Days in Custer July 20-21, the Fall River Hot Air Festival Aug. 24-25 in Hot Springs, and the 10th Stratobowl Hot Air Launch Sept. 13-15.

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