California Hot Air Balloon History - California Dreamin'
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Rise, Fall, & Revival: A Brief History of Ballooning

The story of hot air ballooning begins in France in October of 1783, as the Montgolfier brothers launched the first manned flight. It was a paper and cotton balloon heated by burning straw, stunning a Parisian crowd (including King Louis XVI and Benjamin Franklin) and cementing the brothers in history.1

Their experiments the previous year made it all possible. First, they collected heated air inside large paper or fabric bags and watched them float. Then, they conducted a public demonstration: visitors in a busy marketplace watched a balloon float about 3,000 feet into the air.2 After a few more demonstrations with even larger balloons, in September, they sent up a sheep, a duck, and a rooster, all of which came back down safely. Finally, they felt ready for a manned flight that October.

Within a month, inventor Jacques-Alexandre-César Charles would develop the hydrogen gas balloon, soon conducting the first manned gas balloon ascension himself. And within a couple of years, the gas-hot air hybrid balloon would be developed.3

Over the next few decades, a string of innovations made gas and hot air balloon flight an even more dependable, safe, and long-range method of travel. But by the 1800s, gas balloons had become the preferred method. As a result, hot air ballooning was largely relegated to the status of a niche sport, and it would remain so for nearly 150 years.4 

But the hot air balloon revival came in the 1950s, when American engineer Ed Yost used a propane burner and nylon fabric to create the first truly modern hot air balloon system.4 This new configuration of a centuries-old technology took Yost and Don Piccard across the English Channel, a stunt that didn’t go unnoticed by enthusiasts and an excited public.

The decades that followed saw a steady rise in public ballooning, with companies like our very own California Dreamin’ Balloon Adventures, originally founded in the 1980s in Southern California, which offer iconic sunset flights. Today, hot air balloon rides have become a classic American experience for leisure and tourism.

Golden State Ballooning: History of Hot Air Balloons in California

California has played a key role in the spread and development of hot air ballooning in the United States. And it isn’t hard to guess why. From the coastal valleys to the high desert basins, it seems there isn’t a mile of the state that doesn’t make a beautiful vista for a hot air balloon ride.. Here are some of the most important dates in California hot air ballooning history:

  • 1873, First Napa Valley Balloon Flight: The first recorded hot air balloon ascent in Napa Valley took place on June 4, 1873. A traveling circus brought the balloon to town as part of its attraction lineup.7
  • 1874, San Francisco Passenger Balloon Flights: Balloon rides were being offered to the public as early as 1874 in San Francisco. Enthusiastic crowds lined up to experience flight, even with rudimentary technology.8
  • 1890s, Park Van Tassel in Oakland: Balloonist Park Van Tassel continued to fly gas balloons across the Bay Area and helped form local balloon clubs like the Oakland Aero Club.9
  • 1901, Balloon Escapes to Pescadero: A gas balloon owned by T.S. Baldwin broke free from its moorings in San Francisco and drifted 50 miles south with passengers aboard before landing safely near Pescadero. The dramatic story made national news.8
  • 1910, Dominguez Hills Air Meet: At the 1910 Los Angeles International Air Meet, balloon flights were part of the draw for over 250,000 visitors. While planes were the headliners, lighter-than-air craft held the sky too, including demonstrations and gas balloon races.11
  • 1910s to 1930s, Eureka Balloon Shows: Northern California towns like Eureka hosted balloon exhibitions in the early 20th century. One museum account notes early balloon shows included parachute drops, which drew excited local crowds.12
  • 1964, Don Piccard Moves to Southern California: After helping launch sport ballooning at Raven Industries and co-flying across the English Channel with Ed Yost, Don Piccard relocated to Southern California. There, he founded Don Piccard Balloons, Inc., introducing load tapes, bulbous gore envelope designs, and building some of the first commercially available sport balloons in the U.S.⁶
  • 1978, Aerostatic Rainbows Founded in Cardiff: The precursor to California Dreamin’, Aerostatic Rainbows began offering hot air balloon flights along the coast, marking an early chapter in commercial ballooning in Southern California.
  • 1981, Trans-Pacific Flight Lands in California: The Double Eagle V became the first balloon to cross the Pacific Ocean, traveling 5,768 miles from Japan to Mendocino National Forest, California.¹³
  • 1984, First Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival: The inaugural Rancho California Balloon and Wine Festival took place in spring 1984, drawing over 4,000 people. Thirty-five balloons launched from Rancho California Plaza off Ynez Road, with wine tasting in the parking lot. At the time, the region only had six wineries.16
  • 1985, California Dreamin’ Balloon Adventures Launches: After acquiring Aerostatic Rainbows, the company rebranded as California Dreamin’ Balloon Adventures under new ownership. For the next 33 years, we became a staple of the Del Mar coastline, especially known for our sunset flights in the “Spirit of San Diego” balloon.
  • 1989, Paso Robles Balloon Races: A group of balloonists launched from both Paso Robles Airport and nearby wineries, including a colorful caravan of about 20 balloons that filled the early morning sky over the vineyards.14
  • 2010, Ballooning Industry Faces Turbulence: Rising insurance costs, FAA scrutiny, and post-recession economic pressure caused many California balloon operators to scale back or close. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the number of flights dropped noticeably during this period.15
  • California Dreamin’ Keeps the Flame Alive: From Temecula to Napa, ballooning remains part of California’s visual and cultural landscape. Family-run outfits like California Dreamin’ continue the tradition, offering hot air balloon rides in California, including early morning ascents over vineyards and groves.

From Aerostatic Rainbows to California Dreamin’ (1978–1985)

California Dreamin’ Balloon Adventures traces its roots back to 1978, when Aerostatic Rainbows began flying in Cardiff, California.1 It was one of the first commercial balloon companies in Southern California, taking advantage of the region’s steady weather, fast-growing tourism industry, and unmatched scenic views.

In 1985, David Bradley bought Aerostatic Rainbows for a flying contract with Great American Bank. That’s when he rebranded the company as California Dreamin’ Balloon Adventures and moved operations to Carlsbad.

In no time, David and our team became known for their sunset flights over the Del Mar coastline, and our “Spirit of San Diego” balloon became one of the most iconic hot air balloons in Southern California. For 33 years, Spirit of San Diego flew over the skyline at sunset, carrying awe-struck passengers over beaches, lagoons, and coastal neighborhoods.1

As we discussed in our history of California hot air ballooning, these early decades were pivotal in cementing the Golden State’s place in the U.S. ballooning scene. And California Dreamin’ got to be a part of it, building a reputation for safe operations, incredibly scenic flights, and a decades-old link to the state’s history.

The Pilot’s Journey: David Bradley’s 48 Years Aloft

David Bradley, owner of California Dreamin’ Balloon Adventures, has been flying hot air balloons since he was a teenager in the Midwest. Over the decades, he logged more than 9,200 flight hours and flew across California’s most scenic landscapes, from the Pacific coast to the vineyards of Temecula and Napa.

But Bradley hasn’t just flown Californians and tourists as a commercial pilot. He’s also participated in competitive ballooning. One career highlight came in 2003 at the L&N Federal Credit Union Great Balloon Race in Louisville, Kentucky. Flying the “BellSouth Real Yellow Pages” balloon, he won the event with a marker drop just 8 inches from the target “X.”2

The $7,000 first-place prize went straight into a set of Canton Cooperage wine barrels, which became the foundation for Vindemia Winery’s first blend, Commonwealth, as we’ll discuss in the next section.4

Bradley has also been contracted for challenging coastal flights, which require handling marine winds and layered air currents, experiences which have shaped his emphasis on rigorous pilot training and detailed flight planning—hallmarks of California Dreamin’s sterling reputation, and why many rank it among the best hot air balloon rides in Southern California.

California Dreamin’ & Vindemia Winery: Vineyard Hot Air Balloon Rides

California Dreamin’ eventually relocated to Temecula, drawn by the valley’s combination of wine tourism and reliable flying conditions. The company began pairing morning balloon flights with wine tasting experiences, giving visitors a view of Temecula’s vineyards from above and a taste of its vintages on the ground.

Vindemia Winery was founded in 2004, following the purchase of vineyard land in 2003.3 The first wine release came in 2010, a Syrah served in a lawn fiesta tent with a single server. That same year marked the debut of Commonwealth, the Bordeaux-style blend funded by Bradley’s 2003 balloon race victory. In 2012, Vindemia’s 2009 Syrah earned a gold medal from Sunset Magazine’s International Wine Competition.4

California Dreamin’s mix of ballooning with Temecula’s wine culture has become a defining feature. Our vineyard hot air balloon rides let guests fly above the vineyard in the morning light, and then spend the day tasting wine grown and distilled on the same land.

Sources

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