This Option offers a truly unique way to see the mountains.
We have access to companies in both
eastern Tennessee and western North
Carolina. One such company is known for their special shape balloons. The
pilot/owner of that company is an F.A.A. certified commercial pilot and
instructor and has over 25 years experience. The company has been in full time
service since 1983. We are both comfortable recommending them and in using
their services.
This particular company is located near the
Gatlinburg/Sevierville area of east Tennessee. When taking their flights you
will have a view of Cherokee Lake to the north and Douglas Lake to the south
with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the background. Flights are
scheduled for early morning as
this is the time of day when the winds are calm
and predictable, thus making for the safest and most pleasant flights possible.
Weather permitting actual flight time usually exceeds an hour
but you should plan to set aside 3 hours for the entire ballooning experience.
That includes the “meet and greet”, pre-launch set-up,inflation of the balloon,
the actual flight, landing, pack-up and post-flight ceremony.
This company mainly books “private” flights. In other words
it will only be you and members of your party. Private Flight rate is $229 per
person. There is a discounted “Safari Flight rate of $179 per person which
applies when you authorize them to add other passengers to your flight and they
are able to do
so. There are also group rates available which are $189 per
person for groups of 4-5 people and $159
per person for groups with a minimum
of 8 people.
* Prices do not include sales tax.
One company that we are also pleased to be able to use is
based near Ashville, North Carolina and
offers wedding flights and a one-hour
sunrise flight in and around the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park with fantastic views of the Pisgah National Forest.
This company has operated a commercial ride business for 27 years and has
F.A.A. certified pilots also.
Flights are available seven days a week (weather permitting)
from April through the New Year holidays at sunrise flights. These flights will
require that we stay in the Ashville area the night before to be able
to get
you to your flight on time. Costs for a “general seating flight is $200 per
person. The cost for a private flight is $600 per couple and includes
complimentary Chateau Biltmore champagne. Group
rates are available and are
$180 per person for groups of 6 and $170 for groups of 10 or more. These
flights also give you an hour of flight time and they suggest you set aside 2 ˝
hours for the entire
process. Flight altitudes range from 500 to 2,000 feet.