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Great Park Balloon

Free Flights, Day & Night, Year Round!

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

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

General Balloon Hours

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

2010 Holiday Closures

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

 Flight Tip: Availability to fly is on a first-come, first-serve basis. All flights are dependent on winds and weather conditions. Conditions are generally best before 12 Noon or after sunset.

Holidays: The Balloon will follow its general schedule, including days that fall on holidays, unless noted otherwise in the list of closure dates (to the left).

Special Events: Balloon hours may change during special events. Be sure to check ocgp.org/events for updates on a per-event basis.

Questions, Comments, or Concerns?
Please email us or call the Visitors Centers at 1-(866) 829-3829 (toll-free).

Before You Fly

Parking & Registration. Parking opens 30 minutes before regular operating hours (see above). Registration for day flights begin at 9:45 a.m. on weekdays and 8:45 a.m. on weekends; registration for night flights begin at 6:00 p.m. All flights are on a first-come, first-serve basis and there is limited availability to fly on a daily basis.

Registration. Every potential passenger must sign a waiver at the registration desk in the Visitors Center prior to getting a boarding pass. 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.

General Restrictions & Passengers with Disabilities. There 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.


Did You Know?

The Great Park Balloon is one of the largest tethered helium balloons (not hot air) 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.

Fun Facts. The balloon 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!