The History of the Hot Air Balloon
Emilee Fountain
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The final weekend of our 2021 season is steeped in history. It featured a historic first and coincided with a historic milestone. Worlds of Fun guests experienced something unusual overhead as they walked the midway. On Saturday, November 20, 2021, shortly after 3 p.m., the iconic Worlds of Fun hot air balloon took to the sky from the park for the first time ever. Guests had only seen the balloon at Grand Carnivale until this moment, and it never left the ground. As we revel in this historic moment, we can’t help but reminisce on where the Worlds of Fun hot air balloon got its start.
The story of the hot air balloon started November 10th… 50 years ago. On November 10, 1971, Worlds of Fun hosted our groundbreaking ceremony. Not only was this the beginning of the construction that made the park a reality, but it was the debut of the park’s symbol. The name of the park was announced in August, three months earlier, but on that November day in 1971 at the groundbreaking ceremony, the balloon logo that we all know, and love was revealed to the public for the first time. Albeit with a few changes over the decades, it still symbolizes the same fun, adventure, and travel that Lamar Hunt envisioned for Kansas City all those years ago.
Pictured: Groundbreaking Ceremony on November 10, 1971
Although this fall was the first time we flew our hot air balloon over the park, it isn’t the first time the park has seen a hot air balloon in its skies. That first happened in our inaugural season on July 21st and 22nd of 1973. Worlds of Fun sponsored a Balloon Race in hopes of turning Kansas City into the balloon capital of the world. Unfortunately, Albuquerque, New Mexico holds that title, mostly due to their weather, which is often perfect for year-round hot air ballooning. At least we tried!
Pictured: 1973 Balloon Race!
Since the latest iteration of our hot air balloon design showed itself at our new entrance in 2017, our most recent addition to our collection of balloons was our very own Worlds of Fun real hot air balloon. With the help of Brian Cross, Worlds of Fun Live Entertainment Manager, the vision of an actual Worlds of Fun hot air balloon was brought to life and shown for the first time at our 2019 Grand Carnivale. It took just three months to turn fabric and wicker into the icon we see today. The balloon is 56,000 cubic feet, and each cubic foot is about the size of a basketball. It can carry two people in its basket, one being the pilot. It made its big debut at the park on July 1st, 2019, where it was inflated for the first time.
(Left) Our balloon during its creation process. (Right) First inflation at the park!
Our iconic hot air balloon symbol and colors remind the people of Kansas City that fun is not too far away. From the Worlds of Fun water tower to the not flight-worthy front gate balloon to the newest highly detailed balloon at the toll plaza to the very first real Worlds of Fun hot air balloon, the heart of fun in Kansas City lies with a yellow/blue, purple/pink, green/orange balloon introduced to the world just 50 years ago. We can’t wait to see what the future of fun has in store, but we know it’s looking up.