Our Carson Valley fall and winter hot air balloon rides are a heartwarming experience! The weather conditions for these two seasons are ideal for morning hot air balloon rides in Nevada. You will relish in the views of the Carson River and Carson Range - the spur of the Sierra Nevada, including the incredible Jobs Peak! Amazing wildlife have also been spotted such as both Bald and Golden Eagles, Prairie Falcon, Red-tailed Hawks, deer and more. Some flights are even lucky enough to see Lake Tahoe over the mountains!

Balloon Nevada operates in conjunction with our sister company, Lake Tahoe Balloons who has successfully operated balloon flights over Lake Tahoe for well over two decades. Through our two locations, visitors and locals alike can enjoy the wonders of hot air ballooning year round with options to choose from depending on the season.

Our state-of-the-art FAA certified hot air balloons are built by Cameron Balloons U.S., in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Considered to be the top U.S. manufacturer of hot air balloons, Cameron designs balloons that not only outperform those of competitors but that are also more durable. While foreign and other U.S. manufactures may offer a lower purchase prices, the comfort and knowledge that you are flying in the best that money can buy is priceless. The baskets are compartmentalized to maximize the space, comfort of and safety of each guest and vary in size to do so. They are constructed of rattan which is both light weight and extremely durable. Each basket is individually woven by hand onto a rigid frame. The envelope is typically constructed using fire-treated nylon or dacron that meet specific manufacturer requirements and while the material is lightweight, it is also very strong.

Our Pilot: Sheldon Grauberger

A Las Vegas native, Sheldon began flying balloons in 2003 and has since amassed more than 2400 hours as a hot air balloon pilot. He has flown balloons of all shapes and sizes all over the world and is proud to have maintained a perfect safety record.

Sheldon's passion for ballooning has taken him to balloon festivals around the globe including The Great Reno Balloon Race, Taiwan Balloon Festival, Cielo Magico in Santiago, Mexico, and The International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, NM - recognized as the Olympics of ballooning. As a professional balloon pilot, he flew commercial balloon rides in Las Vegas before making the move to Lake Tahoe Balloons and Balloon Nevada.

Sheldon looks forward to sharing his undying passion for hot air ballooning with you.
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Our GM: Greg Collard

Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Greg has enjoyed a passion for all things outdoors since a very young age. The grand California playground and landscapes drew him to Tahoe in 2008, a decision that has left him with no regrets.

Greg began his career with Lake Tahoe Balloons in 2010, was promoted to Boat Captain of the Tahoe Flyer (the world's smallest aircraft carrier) in 2015 and is also our General Manager for both of our locations, managing the day to day operations and site logistics.

As a semi-pro snowboarder in the winter months, an avid rock climber and hiker in the summer, Greg has a wealth of knowledge on the best places to hike, visit and eat while in Nevada and Tahoe.