Hot Air Balloon Makes Surprise Landing In Chalybeate

A hot air balloon lands in a field owned by Kyle Hennion in Chalybeate on Saturday. (courtesy Steve Bledsoe)

Darren Doyle, story
Not too many people wake up on Saturday morning and find a hot air balloon landing behind their house, especially in Chalybeate, but that's exactly what Donna Hennion and her son, Kyle found yesterday near the intersection of Otter Gap Road and KY HWY 743.

"I thought it was Mark (her husband) out there," Mrs. Hennion said. "I could hear the four wheeler and the dogs going crazy and that's when Kyle called me and said, Mom, there's a hot air balloon behind your house," she said laughing.

She said she also got a call from her neighbor, Steve Bledsoe who also told her the same. The balloon did not crash land, and there were no issues with the balloon itself, as was rumored. In fact, the balloon landed exactly where it's pilot and passengers had intended.

Crew members prepare to pack up the balloon. (S. Bledsoe)

"No, there was no issue," said pilot and balloon owner Jared Miller, of Fiery Gizzard Ballooning. "We meant to land here. We left Bowling Green this morning and decided to take a short trip north. We can only go so far and in certain directions depending on the weather, so we knew we end up somewhere in this area. Once we saw this large open field, we decided to land here."

The field, owned by Kyle Hennion, is a large, open area near his parent's home and Steve Bledsoe's property, which is the old Chalybeate School. 

Miller gave us and the neighbors a short interesting history lesson on ballooning as he and three others with him helped pack up the balloon into a van, driven by a friend who was there to pick them up.

Crew members prepare to load up the basket. (photo by D. Doyle)

"We try to stay away from personal property and cattle, and we want to make sure the property owners know our intent, we just really can't do that until after we land."

All the neighbors seemed to enjoy the balloon and the conversations shared with the balloon's crew.

For more about about Fiery Gizzard Ballooning, you can visit their Facebook page by clicking here.