Balloon Details:

When: July 25 to August 22, 2008:
7am - 10pm, weather permitting

Where: Cherry Hill, Central Park at 72nd Street, west of Bethesda Fountain

Cost: Adults: $25; children: $17.50. Only children over 40" tall may ride. Under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No babies in baby carriers and no animals, please.

See the City As Never Before – Floating 30 Stories Above Central Park!

Basketed Balloon Over NYC’s Crown Jewel Marks 150th Anniversary of the Plan that Made the Park

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Olmsted and Vaux's Greensward plan — the original design for the world's most famous park — the Central Park Conservancy and New York City Department of Parks & Recreation invite New Yorkers and visitors to see the City and the Park as they've never seen it before: floating in silence 30 stories in the air!

AeroBalloon™ is an anchored, helium-filled, state-of-the-art balloon that ascends to a height of 300 feet. The balloon will fly daily from July 25 to August 22, 2008 at Cherry Hill in Central Park, and will take up to four passengers at a time for a 10 minute ride. Riders are welcome from 7am to 10pm.

Get a spectacular daytime view of Central Park and bustling streets, or wait until sundown and float above dazzling city lights.

AeroBalloon has been wowing crowds for years at sites throughout the U.S. with its safe, American-made, non-combustible balloons.

Information: Call 646-827-6287. Learn more about the original design for Central Park and how the Central Park Conservancy has restored this urban oasis at www.centralparknyc.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is AeroBalloon?
A. It is an adventurous tethered balloon ride that carries up to 4 passengers to a height of 300 feet.

Q. How long will it be at Cherry Hill in Central Park?
A. The balloon will fly from July 25 through August 22, 2008.

Q. What are your hours?
A. We begin at 7am and fly until 10pm, weather & wind permitting.

Q. When is the best time to fly?
A. We recommend coming out as early in the morning as possible when the winds are the most calm, and the sunrise view is extraordinary. Evening hours from 6pm to 10pm also tend to have very calm winds and the city lights are spectacular. A quick call to 617-314-6241 will provide up-to-date wind and weather conditions at the launch site.

Q. How long are the rides and what is the cost?
A. Approximately 10 minutes. $25 per adult; $17.50 per child 12 and under. Cash or credit cards accepted.

Q. Is there an age requirement or height requirement?
A. Children shorter than 40" tall will not be allowed to ride in the balloon. No babies in baby carriers and no animals, please.

Q. How many people can fly at the same time?
A. Up to 4 passengers (plus our balloon operator).

Q. Can I make reservations?
A. Reservations are no longer available as all of our reserved slots through August 22 have been filled. But from 10 am to 10 pm every day, we will take riders up on a first in line basis. Please come and see us at Cherry Hill in Central Park at 72nd street, west of Bethesda Fountain. The closest entrance to the Park is at Central Park West and 72nd Street.

If you do have a reservation and are unable to fly on your day due to the weather, please come to the site at 7am on the next day we are flying and we will do our best to accommodate you. Check our weather line first at 617-314-6241.

Q. If the weather is ‘iffy’, is there a number I can call that will tell me if the balloon is flying?
A. For up-to date ‘balloon flight status’, and weather forecast, please call 617-314-6241. We recommend that everyone with early morning reservations call this number before coming out to the site.

Q. Can I see the balloon at night?
A. Yes. It has an internal lighting system that makes the balloon glow.

Q. What is it filled with?
A. Helium: an inert, non-flammable, lighter than air gas.

Q. How high does it go?
A. Approximately 300 feet or as high as a 30 story building.

Q. Where does it go?
A. The Aeroballoon is always moored to the ground via a cable and winch system. This allows us to ascend to 300 feet and return safely in the same location.