22 www. n A PAVA L L E Y L I F Emagaz ine .com Napa Valey Aloft Balon Rides Owner: Jay Kimball Meeting site: V Marketplace, 6525 Washington St., Yountville Launch sites: Primary – V Marketplace Secondary – Pope Valley Post-flight dining at: Pacific Blues Café at V Marketplace Phone: 707-944-4400 Email: ballooning@nvaloft.com Website: http://nvaloft.com/ Balons Above the Valey Owner: Bob Barbarick Meeting site: N apa Marriott Hotel lobby, 3425 Solano Ave., Napa Launch sites: Primary – Yountville Post-flight dining at: Napa Marriott Hotel Phone: 800-464-6824 Email: info@balloonrides.com Website: balloonrides.com Napa Valey Balons Owner: Gabe Gundling Meeting site: Domaine Chandon Winery, 1 California Drive, Yountville Launch sites: Primary – Vintner’s Golf Course, Yountville Secondary – Winters Post-flight dining at: Domaine Chandon’s Etoile restaurant Phone: 800-253-2224 Email: info@napavalleyballoons.com Website: napavalleyballoons.com Calisto ga Balons Owner: Bob Allen Meeting site: Railroad Depot, Car #15 at 1458 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga Launch sites: Primary – Calistoga Secondary – Middletown Post-flight dining at: Solage Calistoga Phone: 888-995-7700 Email: driftaway@calistogaballoons.com Website: calistogaballoons.com Far from being unconnected competitors, the Napa Valley balloon companies actually form a sort of local ballooning fraternity that goes back over thirty years. In the 1970s, Kimball and Bob Allen, owner of Calistoga Balloons, were flying fixed wing gliders out of Calistoga. In 1978, Kimball and Allen got together with three classmates of Kimball’s from Napa Valley High—Bob and Hugh Barbarick and Don Surplus—and out of curiosity purchased their first hot air balloon. Together they started a hobby flying club which they christened the Yountville Aerostat Society. “We all had completely separate livelihoods. We were just looking for something to do on our weekends,” recalled Kimball. Things really “took off” from there. By 1980, they were getting so many requests for rides that they formally started Napa Valley Balloons as an organized business offering rides for hire. They bought more balloons and went on to create a thriving small local industry that delights visitors and local residents alike. As the business continued to grow, the partners split up and formed their own companies. Bob Barbarick now operates Balloons Above the Valley. Kimball is joined by his three grown children, Gretchen, Jayson, and Jared (all pilots like their father), to form Napa Valley Aloft Balloon Rides. Allen operates Calistoga Balloons, and Surplus recently sold Napa Valley Balloons to Gundling, who started with the company as a ground crewperson. The local ballooning industry remains a tightly knit group of friendly competitors who share a real passion for flying hot air balloons. Their skill as pilots is matched by their gracious charisma and consummate hospitality. Enjoying a morning with any of these groups is a fantastic way to see Napa Valley from a uniquely delightful perspective. Balloon Companies of the Napa Valley 2 2 www. n A PAVA L L E Y L I F Emagaz ine .com Photo by Bob Barbarick Photo by Stephen Ferry Photo by Forest Woodward
NVLife_SeptOct_2013
To see the actual publication please follow the link above