Black Hills Balloons

Black Hills Balloons Sunrise hot air balloon flights in the Black Hills. Celebratory toast & flight certificate included. FLY the Black Hills!
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Reservations required: Price: $375 adult /$300 kids (age 4-12) Sunrise hot air balloon flights in the Southern Black Hills of South Dakota. Flights are at sunrise and are approximately one hour. Includes a traditional champagne toast & first flight certificate. Reservations required:
Price: $375 adult /$300 child (4-12)

01/22/2025

Life is short - but the itinerary doesn’t have to be.

Start planning your next bucket list adventure now!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION:Do you fly in the Winter?Yes! You can’t keep us out of the air, honestly. Whether we’re travel...
01/20/2025

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION:
Do you fly in the Winter?

Yes! You can’t keep us out of the air, honestly. Whether we’re traveling with our balloon, visiting hot air friends and taking to the skies, or flying locally, we’re always enjoying our passion.

In fact, we offer Winter (off-season) flights, by special appointment. If you’re in the area between October and May, and you’d like to fly, give us a call to discuss. Winter flights can be just as (or even more) stunning when the weather is right. 605-673-2520

Attending Custer’s Burning Beetle tonight?We’ll be lighting the ceremonial 1st torch at Pageant Hill park from a hot air...
01/18/2025

Attending Custer’s Burning Beetle tonight?

We’ll be lighting the ceremonial 1st torch at Pageant Hill park from a hot air balloon burner! Once it’s lit, runners from Custer Jr/Sr High School Track and Field will run the torch to the school to light/join the mob!

If you see us, and you need a warm up, stop by to say hello! Happy Beetle Burn! 🕷️🔥

We just love being sponsors to this unique community event! If you’re interested in sponsoring, let us know and we’ll share the details. Individuals can sponsor too! 😉

In a Black Hills state of mind…… and already dreaming of warmer weather and green, lush hills.
01/18/2025

In a Black Hills state of mind…

… and already dreaming of warmer weather and green, lush hills.

It’s National Sticker Day so we’re giving away 10 of these fun stickers!Want to win? Comment below using three words you...
01/13/2025

It’s National Sticker Day so we’re giving away 10 of these fun stickers!

Want to win? Comment below using three words you’d use to describe the Black Hills! We’ll choose randomly on Wednesday the 15th, from the comments below.

Custer’s annual Burning Beetle 🪲 event is almost here - Saturday the 18th! And because we love a good reason to play wit...
01/11/2025

Custer’s annual Burning Beetle 🪲 event is almost here - Saturday the 18th! And because we love a good reason to play with fire 😉, we’re giving away 4 tickets to carry a torch and be part of the fun! 🔥

YOU CAN WIN! We want to award someone who has to travel to Custer, SD to experience the event. If you plan on attending (or you'd like to attend) and you’re visiting from somewhere else, comment with:

+ City and state you are traveling from
+ Number of miles you will travel to get here
+ Tag a friend for extra credit

We’ll choose two winners at random on Thursday the 16th! Each winner will receive 2 torch tickets!

Follow the Burning Beetle Page for more information on this unique annual event, how to support the Custer Area Arts, and learn more about the mountain pine beetle infestation (and the amazing way our community responded).

We’re honored to sponsor the event, every year! See you at the event on Saturday, January 18!

*contest is not supported/endorsed by meta. Winners must be 18+ and provide proof of residency in order to pick up prize. Tickets must be picked up before Saturday January 18 at 1pm or prize will be forfeited and given away to another lucky event attendee.

TODAY IN HISTORY: January 9, 1793 - the first manned flight of a balloon in America.Jean-Pierre Blanchard ascended from ...
01/09/2025

TODAY IN HISTORY: January 9, 1793 - the first manned flight of a balloon in America.

Jean-Pierre Blanchard ascended from a field in Philadelphia to 5,800 feet and made a successful landing in New Jersey.

George Washington observed that launch. And now, hundreds of years later, we get to soar under his watchful eye, just miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial .

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION: What happens once I reserve my flight?The Day Before:The evening prior to your reserved fligh...
01/07/2025

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION: What happens once I reserve my flight?

The Day Before:
The evening prior to your reserved flight, we ask that you check your email or call 605-673-2520 to confirm weather status and meeting time. If you have any questions at this time, we’ll be happy to answer them.

The Day Of:
On the morning of your flight, you'll meet your pilot and crew and travel to the launch site in one of our passenger vans. Upon arrival, our ground crew will unload the balloon and prepare the equipment for inflation. After a quick pilot-passenger briefing, the balloon will be ready to inflate. The inflation process takes approximately 20 minutes and when ready, your pilot will signal for you to jump in. Your flight over the hills will last approximately 1 hour, while viewing local wildlife, gorgeous landscapes, and a beautiful Black Hills sunrise. Flight altitude varies daily, from treetops to a few thousand feet; allowing for the best views and steerage to the best available landing site. Upon landing, the balloon ground crew will quickly pack up the aircraft, while you and your pilot toast with champagne and a traditional Balloonist Poem.

Upon return to our downtown hanger and passenger meeting location, you’ll be free to explore the town of Custer and find breakfast at one of our awesome locally owned restaurants. Sure it’s early, but it’s all part of the fun!

POV: Fulfilling that first bucket list item of 2025 😍 #2025
01/04/2025

POV: Fulfilling that first bucket list item of 2025 😍

#2025

“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count; it’s the life in your years.” - Abe Lincoln ...
01/02/2025

“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count; it’s the life in your years.” - Abe Lincoln

GOALS FOR 2025:▫️Make every trip a journey, not a destination▫️Take more scenic routes and less shortcuts▫️ Go where WiF...
01/01/2025

GOALS FOR 2025:

▫️Make every trip a journey, not a destination
▫️Take more scenic routes and less shortcuts
▫️ Go where WiFi is weak & views are strong
▫️ Less screen time, more green time
▫️ Take more paths that aren’t paved
▫️ Turn Group texts into group treks
▫️Step out of your comfort zone and soar

May this new year take you to places you’ve never been before - full of bucket-list adventures, endless opportunities, a...
12/31/2024

May this new year take you to places you’ve never been before - full of bucket-list adventures, endless opportunities, and good fortune.

Happy New Year

2025 is right around the corner! What are you looking up to, in the New Year?
12/28/2024

2025 is right around the corner! What are you looking up to, in the New Year?

Wishing you a holiday filled with wonder, excitement, and unforgettable memories.May the New Year bring you thrilling jo...
12/24/2024

Wishing you a holiday filled with wonder, excitement, and unforgettable memories.

May the New Year bring you thrilling journeys, breathtaking landscapes, and the courage to explore beyond the ordinary.

❤️ Keely & Damien Mahony - and all of us at Black Hills Balloons

Happy Hanukkah! ✨To those who celebrate, we wish you a festival filled with joy and happy moments. ...
12/23/2024

Happy Hanukkah! ✨

To those who celebrate, we wish you a festival filled with joy and happy moments.

It’s officially the first day of winter - and we’re looking forward to a few snowy flights like this:Don’t forget! We al...
12/21/2024

It’s officially the first day of winter - and we’re looking forward to a few snowy flights like this:

Don’t forget! We also fly during our off-season. Ready to bundle up and fly this winter? Just give us a call.

* Flights offered daily, May through October and “by special appointment”, November through April.

Last-Minute Shoppers, we’re here for you!Gifting a hot air balloon flight is easy.▪️ Buy a gift certificate on our websi...
12/21/2024

Last-Minute Shoppers, we’re here for you!
Gifting a hot air balloon flight is easy.

▪️ Buy a gift certificate on our website
▪️ Print the certificate at home
▪️ Put under the tree
▪️ Recipient chooses the best day to fly

It’s so easy (and 10% off until Dec 31st)! Visit www.blackhillsballoons.com to learn more.

Fly in a hot air balloon! Sunrise champagne flights depart daily from Custer South Dakota. Adventure Awaits!

Address

747 Mt Rushmore Road
Custer, SD

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 8pm
Saturday 8am - 8pm
Sunday 8am - 8pm

Telephone

+16056732520

Website

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Life is short - but the itinerary doesn’t have to be. Start planning your next bucket list adventure now! #custersouthdakota #custersd #custer #southdakota #hifromsd #custerstatepark #discoverblackhills #blackhills #blackhillsballoons #blackhillssd

Here are some of our best views of 2024! #bestviews #bestviewever #bestviewsintheworld #bestviewintown #2024recap #2024trends #hotairballoon #hotairballoons #hotairballooning #hotairballoonviral #custer #blackhills #blackhillsbadlands #blackhillsballoons #southdakota #hifromsd #discoverblackhills

Happy Giving Tuesday!Thanks to all our crew and passengers who purchased our up-cycled patch flannels, we were able to donate $300 each - to @1stfamiliesnow and @onespiritlakota It’s a lovely day to make someone day.#givingtuesday #givingtoothers #supportcommunity #supportcommunities #onespirit #firstfamiliesnow #pineridge #supportlocalnonprofits #southdakota #supportnonprofits #supportnonprofit #blackhills

🎄Give Experiences This Holiday Season. There are so many reasons why - but most of all, gifting experiences instead of things is the best way to make memories with the ones you love. And isn’t that what this season is all about? It’s undeniable that time spent with others is time well spent. Give the gift of flight with Black Hills Balloons - gift certificates are available on our website. #blackhillsgiftguide #southdakotagiftguide #giftexperience #giftexperiences #giveexperiences #giftideas #giftideasforher #giftideasforhim #giftideas2024 #giftideas2024❤️

What a way to start the day! Sound on 🔊 to hear the gentle roar of the burners. DID YOU KNOW: A hot air balloon burner's primary function is to generate heat to inflate the balloon and allow the pilot to control its altitude. As the air inside heats up, it expands and becomes less dense than the cooler air outside, causing the balloon to rise. The pilot uses the burner to control the temperature of the air inside the balloon and how much lift it generates; controlling the altitude of the balloon.

You never know where a #Forever605 sticker will show up! South Dakota is such a great place to live and play! ‘Forever 605’ means we want to keep it that way. Thanks Travel South Dakota for all the goodies! And for communicating the benefits of tourism with the need to protect our state's natural resources and way of life. 🙌🏼

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "My family recently took a trip to the Black Hills. We decided to do something on our Bucket Lists and go for a Hot Air Balloon ride. It was amazing! One of the coolest things we have ever done. It was so beautiful and peaceful. The staff was very nice and they talked to us about the history of Hot Air Balloons. They even talked to my son about how they were navigating the balloon. We would definitely do it again!" - Lindsay / Google

Let the games begin! 🇫🇷 Happy opening day to the Paris Summer Olympics. What do you think? Should hot air ballooning be added an official Olympic sport!?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "We just flew with Black Hills Balloons over the 4th of July weekend and it was an amazing experience. Damien was our pilot and he was funny, informative, and made the experience all around a great one. The crew seem very knowledgeable and capable to ensure you have a safe and successful flight. They also provide snacks and mimosas post flight which was a fun touch! Would definitely recommend, and the black hills is a beautiful place to see from above." - Kathleen / Google

One of our favorite weekends is here! Gold Discovery Days in Custer, South Dakota! We’re looking forward to sharing the sky with colorful balloons and visiting pilots. Enjoy this little video from the 2023 event. Here’s 🤞🏼 hoping for another great year of flying weather.#sharingthesky #greatevent #greatevents #golddiscovery #golddiscoverydays #gdds #lastyear #lastyeartoday #funmemories #bestmemories #custersd #custer #custerstatepark #southdakota #hifromsd #blackhills #custerblackhills

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OUR STORY

If you’ve ever considered quitting your day job and running away with the circus, we can relate.

After years of wishing for a better life; one that allowed for adventure and enjoying the outdoors, FAA certified balloon pilots Keely and Damien Mahony, decided to do just that. They quit their Florida jobs and “ran away with the circus” by registering a new company name “The Flying Circus Inc.” and running for the hills. They purchased a 30+ year old business and took over the reins of the long loved and admired Black Hills Balloons.

It was a difficult decision but one that was considered and weighed. They both agreed the change was critical to their health and enjoying life to its fullest.

Damien, a very punny (forgive the pun) Irish immigrant who spent his days flying the largest hot air balloon in the US, had to say goodbye to his GM position and the amazing team at Orlando Balloon Rides, one of the most well-oiled machines in the commercial balloon ride business. And Keely, although in love with her corporate Marketing Philanthropy position at Hard Rock International, which combined her love of music, marketing and charity, had to make the decision to walk away from the “the coolest and most unique job ever” (she heard this daily). Over the years she travelled the world and collaborated with legends like Rihanna, KISS, Imagine Dragons, The WHO, Yoko Ono Lennon and U2, but her desire to do something different wouldn’t go away.