Lake Tahoe Balloons - World Class Hot Air Balloon Rides

Lake Tahoe Balloons was established in 1992. The company has successfully operated flights over Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley for well over a decade. Our Company is committed to providing Lake Tahoe Visitors and locals alike with a world class adventure by placing a very high emphasis on customer service, safety and quality.

With decades of experience in Aviation, Marine and Hospitality Operations, each and everyone of our staff offers something unique and valuable to our company. Our pilots, all FAA certified instructors, are the most qualified professionals in this region, averaging 25 years experience. All of our ship Captains hold U.S.C.G. 100 ton masters licenses. The "Tahoe Flyer", the world’s only Hot Air Balloon launch and recovery vessel is U.S. Coast Guard certified. Our fleet of brand new, state of the art Hot Air Balloons are the newest and safest luxury aircraft available in the world today featuring secure, high sided, separated compartments.

Of course there is the Lake Tahoe Balloons team. This company would not be operating without them. Their passion for Hot Air Ballooning and ensuring our guests a good time is noticeable from the moment we pick you up to the moment we drop you back off. We hope you have the opportunity to come and spend the morning with us all!

Tammy Hoy / Operations Director
Tammy has a degree in Hospitality Management and has spent over 15 years working in the travel and hotel/convention industries. After receiving her degree in hospitality management, she went on to manage some of the largest conventions in the nation, ranging from 10 to 5,000 people. Working for the likes of Walt Disney himself at the Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, Florida, she has studied and been exposed to nothing less than 5 star customer service and understands the importance of implementing this service for her guests during their travels. Tammy has traveled to most parts of the world including Africa, Mexico and Asia experiencing a variation of cultures and recreational activities. Bringing all of these experiences together to provide you with a remarkable adventure while in Lake Tahoe!

Harley Hoy / Flight Director
Harley has been a licensed Captain for over 30 years holding a U.S.C.G. 100 ton masters license and a licensed pilot for over 25 years of various aircraft. Aircraft are his primary hobby while boating has been his livelihood. He has spent most of his time designing, building, renovating and operating boats of many different styles. He has consulted for, designed and owned passenger boats and tour companies in New York, Michigan and Florida. He has built his own 50 passenger paddlewheel boat offering tours on the St. Johns river in Florida and most recently has been purchasing and renovating Amphibious Military Vehicles for tour company resale.

Aaron Dieringer, Operations Manager/Pilot

Aaron comes to Lake Tahoe Balloons with an extensive aviation background. He began flying airplanes at the age of 15 and quickly climbed his way up the aviation ladder gaining his commercial pilots license and instructor rating. During his career he has been a flight instructor and a cargo pilot flying throughout the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Throughout the years, Hot Air Ballooning has become Aarons real passion. He has also received his commercial hot air balloon license along with instructor rating. Since joining Lake Tahoe Balloons years ago, Aaron has successfully completed training and received his U.S.C.G. 100 ton masters license enabling him to operate the Tahoe Flyer. Aaron has stepped into the roll of operations manager running all faucets of the business. You will see Aaron doing everything from flying our balloons, picking up our guests, operating our boats or just sharing his aviation experiences with our guests. Aaron will strive to ensure you have the safest and most amazing hot air balloon adventure!

Richard Glas/Pilot
Richard brings over 20 years of commercial flying experience to our company. Richard is extremely competent with a wide range of aircraft and just recently took first place in the Arizona Balloon club trophy race. Richard has an instructor rating and has had many successful students earn their private and commercial pilot licenses under his tutoring. He has delighted passengers in flights from such diversified areas as the desserts of Arizona, the great Northwest, and the Australian Outback. Richard ensures his passengers have a fun flight and provides enthusiastic B.S. during the flight. Note: B.S. stands for balloon stories!

Whit Landvater/Pilot
Whit received his commercial pilot license in 1981 and has been a charter site-seeing and corporate sponsor pilot ever since. He has also trained many other people to fly. Destinations in which he has flown Hot Air Balloons includes most of the United States, parts of Canada, Belgium, Switzerland and Holland with Belgium and the Carson Valley being his favorite places to fly balloons. As you may be in a balloon basket with Whit for an hour or so, there are probably a few things you should know about him. His "real job" is a graphic/web designer, so if you need assistance with any graphic or web work, please feel free to take a peek at his web site: area-fiftyone.com. His hobbies include anything that gets him out of doing yard work, all motor sports/racing, and his favorite food is tongue stew (served on Saturday nights only) at the Carson Valley Country Clubs Basque Restaurant.

Allen Anderson/Pilot
Allen Anderson was certified as an FAA Commercial Pilot in 1982. With over 20 years of flying experience he has logged over 2,250 hours of flying time. Over the years Allen has been involved in almost every aspect of ballooning. He has managed some of the largest balloon operations on the West Coast, was in charge of administering nation wide corporate balloon tours, has flown and sold corporate balloons, trained pilots and organized world renowned balloon races such as The Great Reno Balloon Race. Most recently Allen has even owned his own Hot Air Balloon Company in the Carson Valley, NV. Allen is a very competitive person winning first and second place at the Great Reno Balloon Race in two separate years. Allen is currently a Fire Captain/EMT 1 in the Carson Valley. Allen knows that ballooning comes natural to him, he believes there is a true magic in hot air ballooning and loves to share this magic with our guests. His focus is on professionalism and safety and he will never jeopardize safety for any reason. A pilots attitude and personality are a direct reflection on our company and to say it most modestly, Allen has a tremendous personality, attitude and outrageous sense of humor making him a huge asset to our company. You’ll surely enjoy your Hot Air Ballooning experience with Allen.