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Great Park Balloon

The Great Park Balloon is the Orange County Great Park’s first major attraction. All flights are free. With the ability to hold up to 25 to 30 visitors and soar up to 400 feet above the surrounding landscape, passengers can watch development of the Great Park unfold as construction activity increases.

The Balloon envelope was upgraded in December 2009 and now features internal illumination and a UV protected envelope.

General Balloon Hours

Thursday – Friday
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. & 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. & 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Map & Directions

Availability to fly is on a first-come, first-serve basis. All flights are dependent on winds and weather conditions (generally best before 12:00 noon or after sunset). All potential passengers must sign a Registration Waiver prior to boarding.

Balloon hours may change during special events. Be sure to check our upcoming events for updates on a per-event basis.

Holiday Closures (2010)

The Balloon will follow its general schedule throughout the year regardless of holidays, unless listed in the closure dates below.

Example: Closed Labor Day (Park is closed Mondays); closed Columbus Day (listed below); open Veterans Day (not listed below).

Date Closed Holiday
January 1 New Year’s Day
January 18 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
February 15 President’s Day
October 11 Columbus Day
November 25 Thanksgiving Day
Questions, Comments, or Concerns?
Please email us or call the Visitors Centers at 1-(866) 829-3829 (toll-free).

More Info

Did You Know?

The Great Park Balloon is one of the largest tethered helium (not hot air) balloons and the first of its kind in the United States. It is environmentally safe, non-polluting, and virtually silent.

The Balloon is always tethered to the ground with a steel cable and is never in a state of free flight, making it both a safe and fun experience for everyone. It stands 118 ft high with a volume of 210,000 ft3. The gondola weighs 1,810 lbs and can hold up to 30 passengers at a time. Flying up to 400 ft in the air, the tether holding the balloon to the ground has the strength of 99,000 lbs

Parking and Registration

Parking opens 30 minutes before general operating hours (see above).

Every potential passenger must sign a Registration Waiver (PDF, 217 KB) prior to receiving a boarding pass (also available at the Visitors Center). Waivers for children under the age of 18 must be signed by a parent or guardian. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

All flights are on a first-come, first-serve basis and there is limited availability to fly on a daily basis.

Accessibility and Restrictions

AccessibilityThere are no age, height, or health restrictions to fly on the Great Park Balloon. The Balloon is wheelchair accessible allowing guests with wheelchairs and Electric Convenience Vehicles (ECV) no larger than 25″ wide and 48.5″ long to remain in their seat during flight. Should the wheelchair or ECV exceed the prescribed dimensions, passengers will have to the option to transfer to a standard wheelchair provided by the Visitor Center, or to a folding chair placed in the Balloon’s gondola.