Published by Jeremy. Last Updated on September 17, 2024.
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We’ve been fortunate enough to take a hot air balloon ride in Tanzania, and we always wondered what a flight in the Pittsburgh region would be like.
In 2024, we got to find out that Butler Ballooning opened up just north of the city to provide sunrise hot air balloon rides high above Butler County.
We were guests of Butler Ballooning to check out what a flight is like shortly after this one opened, and we have to admit, this one is quite the experience well worth getting up early for!
Flying High Over Butler with Butler Ballooning
Our flight with Butler Ballooning started with an early meetup at the Butler Farm Show Airport in Evans City- approximately 50 minutes north of downtown Pittsburgh.
We arrived for a 6:30 am start to find a crew of specialists unrolling the balloon and prepping it for its ascent in to the skies above Butler. Within a few minutes after our greeting and initial safety brief, the balloon rose to life and it was time to board.
With clear skies and very calm winds, we boarded the basket in our respective compartments and waived goodbye to the land below. Just like that, without barely noticing it at all, we were airborne and gaining altitude over Butler.
It is at this point that we should stop and point out something very important. When it comes to ballooning, once you are airborne you are at the mercy of the winds. We’re told that the wind in Butler can go in all direction, so once you are off the ground, what you see truly is at the mercy of the weather of the day.
For our own flight, the winds moved to the southeast, and we found ourselves flying over the Butler Farm Show grounds, over a residential area of Meridian, and onward to near Oak Hills due south of Butler.
Along the way we flew over a massive expanse of forest, gained elevation enough to see the Steel Tower of downtown Pittsburgh (visible on low humidity days, we’re told), watched the sun rise over the hills (the main reason for such an early start!), experienced fast(ish) moving winds and near dead halts depending on what altitude we were at, and skimmed over the treetops in a scene that felt could only be described as like being in a nature documentary.
It really feels like the ground is moving below you, not you moving in the balloon!
But perhaps the highlight of all was when our skilled pilot, Daniel, saw we were coming up on Saw Mill Run Reservoir. He masterfully lowered the balloon and caught the shifting winds to bring us over the reservoir, and brought us so close to the water that the very bottom of the basket started to skim across the surface- truly a sign of his years of experience flying all over the world.
After the close shave against the water, we rose back up into the air, up and out of the reservoir, before continuing to watch the sunrise over Butler County and landing in the backyard of a local resident who came out to greet us with a bit of surprise of seeing a balloon in their backyard (in all the best ways possible).
After the hour-or-so long balloon flight, we ended the morning with the ceremonial toast of sparkling wine, joined in by the residents who had a (thankfully welcomed) visitor in the early hours of the morning- a tradition dating back to the very early days of ballooning to share with those on the ground who may be impacted by a balloon showing up unexpectedly.
All told, we were in the air for a little over an hour and the entire experience from start to finish lasted about 2 1/2 hours, producing memories we won’t soon forget!
How to Get the Most Out of Your Ballooning Experience
Before booking your balloon flight with Butler Ballooning, we’d be remiss if we did not leave you with a few points to get the most out of your experience.
First, ballooning is, obviously, seasonal and weather dependent. When booking a flight, be flexible with potential backup dates in mind in case the weather is poor. The first day we had scheduled was canceled due to poor weather in the forecast, and we rescheduled onto a flight a few days later.
Second, pay close attention to arrival instructions. If your departure is the same locations as ours, you’ll want to access the road to the west of the Farm Show Airport main entrance. This is the small road to the right of the Farm Services building across from the Mazda dealership. We had to call for final directions as it was quite dark and we missed the turn due to construction.
Third, prepare for the weather. You may be going up a few thousand feet in the air in the early morning hours, and depending on the year it can be chilly.
Fourth, wear shoes that can get wet. We wore our waterproof hiking shoes here as we were told the morning dew on grass at landing sites can be fairly wet, and it absolutely was. Wearing a good pair of shoes for this is quite important.
Finally, take pictures and video, but don’t forget to soak it all in. It would be incredibly easy to get carried away taking photos of every unique angle you see when ballooning. But sometimes it is best to put the camera down and soak it all in, too.
Overall, while a premium activity, going on a flight with Butler Ballooning is an experience we won’t soon forget. There is something magical about seeing the region from above that is hard to put into words, and it isn’t until you are gliding by hundreds of feet in the air that it really comes together for a breathtaking moment that can only be described as special.
We cannot wait to fly again!
Butler Ballooning departs from the Butler Farm Show Airport at 627 Evans City Road in Evans City, PA. We were guests of Butler Ballooning for this review. As always, all opinions are our own.
