A new balloon ride is set to take off this summer, once again giving visitors a bird’s eye view of the Falls.
Live! Inc., an American-Canadian company that puts on events and concerts, plans to fly the world’s largest helium balloon in June with the Live! On Air Fallsview Balloon Ride. Mike Dicienzo, of the Dicienzo Group, operates hotels on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border and is the founder and president of the company.
“It’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity to go up in a balloon over the Falls,” said Jake Ventresca, the events coordinator for Live! Inc.
A press release said that riders would fly more than 500 feet in the air. The average ride would take around 15 minutes, with 5 minutes each dedicated to going up and down. The company says the balloon could operate at a rate of up to 180 riders per hour — 45 per trip at 15-minute intervals — with the option of reserving for private events.
The balloon will fly at the former Rainbow Air and Hummingbird Helicopters pad site at 454 Main St. by the Niagara Inn. It will not fly from the pad but will be tethered to the ground nearby and lift off from there.
The rock ’n’ roll-themed ride will have music playing and lighting during the trip. The balloon will be filled with helium instead of hot air and flights will be weather dependent.
Hot air balloon rides have previously operated in Niagara Falls, the most recent being Flight of Angels operating from 2001 to 2007 at 310 Rainbow Blvd. Ventresca said they have no relation to any past operating companies, this being its first attraction.
“We see it as an opportunity to get people over to the American side,” Ventresca said.
Outside of attractions, Live! Inc. is also getting into the hospitality industry, developing rock-themed hotels in Niagara Falls and Muskoka, Ont., with other locations in the U.S. and Canada in mind. Right now the hotel plans are just concept drawings on the Live! Inc. website, but they do intend on making the balloon ride part of the hotel in the future.