Balloons Over Iowa - Hot Air Ballooning, Rides, Repair, Sales, Training

Balloons Over Iowa, Ltd. has been servicing hot air balloons all over the Midwest for over 25 years. However, it hasn't always been named, 'Balloons Over Iowa'. In 1978 Rob and Linda Bartholomew opened their balloon repair station under the name, 'Bartholomew's Balloon Port'. It wasn't until 1979 that 'Balloons Over Iowa' became the official name of the Bartholomew family business.

The first response people may have is, 'who would think of opening a hot air balloon repair station' In 1973 Rob and Linda were watching balloons land on their property, and Rob already having his fixed wing pilot license, thought flying a balloon would be fun to try. After receiving his 'Lighter Then Air' pilot's license in 1974 through the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), Rob got together with 9 other guys who all became joint owners of a balloon. The group called their balloon 'The Streak'. The first time the club balloon was damaged, they decided to have Linda do the repair since she was a seamstress. In 1978 Rob and Linda decided to approach the FAA about becoming certified to repair and annual hot air balloons. They were more than happy to help them become certified because there were very few repair stations for hot air balloons.

Rob and Linda opened their business in Rob's parent's basement in 1978, doing repairs, annual inspections and selling Balloon Works Balloons (to date, Rob has sold 160 balloons, 100 of being new Fireflys). The first year of business they hired one employee to assist with repairs and annuals. They preformed 12 annual inspections that year. In 1979 Rob and Linda bought a burned out mobile home trailer, fixed it up, and moved out of the family basement. This is when 'Bartholomew's Balloon Port' was changed to Balloons Over Iowa, Ltd. That same year they were up to 26 annuals, and by 1982 they were performing over 110 annuals a year. They also added art work and signs to their business. Linda performed her first art work on a balloon in 1979 called the 'Golden Griffin'.

By 1987 Balloons Over Iowa, Ltd. had finally found its permanent home. Rob and Linda built a new building, a 40' x 80' complex with an 18' ceiling. This building is tall enough to do cold air inflations. The balloon port is used for much more than balloon repairs and annuals. Balloons Over Iowa holds ground school (a FAA training school to become a balloon pilot), holiday social gatherings, and monthly club meetings.