What started as a race between a few friends has become an internationally renowned event. The Forest Park Balloon Race is an annual spectacle drawing thousands of spectators. Today, we’ll explore the origins of the race and the rich ballooning history of St. Louis.
Early Ballooning in St. Louis
St. Louis has a long history with hot air balloons—or, as they were first called, lighter-than-air aircraft.
As early as 1859, St. Louis saw its first balloon flight.
Professor John Wise, a ballooning enthusiast, devised a daring plan to secure funding for a transatlantic balloon trip. He would first fly halfway across the United States, proving the feasibility and stirring support for a transatlantic journey.
The plan: fly from St. Louis, Missouri to Henderson, New York—a 1,200-mile trip.
The Balloon Atlantic
The balloon, named the Atlantic, was constructed by John Lamountain, a fellow balloonist from New York, financed by Vermont businessman O.A. Gager.
Made of fine Chinese silk, it measured 50 feet in diameter and 60 feet tall, holding 60,000 cubic feet of gas.
Below hung a wicker basket like today’s balloons, and 16 feet beneath that was a small wooden boat to carry supplies and provide safety in case of water landing.
The Historic Flight
On July 1, 1859, the Atlantic took off from St. Louis at 6:45 PM. Onboard were:
Professor John Wise
John Lamountain
O.A. Gager
William Hyde, reporter for the Missouri Republican
Hyde wrote about the ascent:
“The applauding shots of the people reached our ears for some time after we left the earth, growing fainter and fainter as we receded. Objects became less clearly defined. Finally, the city faded into a spot. The balloon afforded an extended view of the Mississippi River, the Missouri and Illinois rivers. I had an opportunity to realize, as much as possible to a practical person, the meaning of poetic dreams when attempting to portray the silver, glittering sheen of the waters produced by rays of the declining sun. Nothing could be imagined more gorgeously beautiful.”
By 6:45 AM the next day, they reached Lake Erie.
Trouble Over Lake Ontario
Over Lake Ontario, a severe storm hit with fierce wind gusts and no land in sight.
They jettisoned everything possible to escape or rise above the storm, but it wasn’t enough.
At 1:35 PM, they spotted land but were still caught in the storm.
The balloon crashed on the shores of Lake Ontario, but before the men could exit, another gust dragged it through treetops, finally landing it safely in a large tree fork.
No injuries occurred, but the balloon was shredded.
The Flight’s Legacy
The Atlantic traveled 809 miles over 19 hours and 50 minutes—a record unbroken for over 50 years.
Ballooning Grows in St. Louis
In the early 1900s, Washington University launched about 50 experimental balloons to study weather.
But the first balloon race came in 1907.
The 1907 James Gordon Bennett International Balloon Race
On October 21, 1907, St. Louis hosted the 2nd James Gordon Bennett International Balloon Race.
12 balloons from 4 countries launched from Forest Park
100,000 spectators attended
Balloons were mostly silk, filled with propane or natural gas supplied by Laclede Gas Company
Note: Early balloons looked like gray or black orbs—far from today’s colorful shapes.
The German balloon Pommern won, flying 880 miles in 40 hours to New Jersey.
St. Louis hosted the race again in 1910 and 1929.
Ballooning Enthusiasm and Local Developments
St. Louis held annual balloon races, and interest soared (pun intended!).
This enthusiasm led to the founding of the Aero Club of St. Louis, which established:
Scott Field (1917), a “lighter-than-air” training center
Kinloch Field, the only aero club in the country with its own dedicated field
Major Albert Lambert, president of the Aero Club, also inspired the creation of Lambert Airport (details to come in another episode).
Decline and Revival of Ballooning
Ballooning continued until the 1937 Hindenburg disaster dampened interest worldwide.
By the 1950s, interest revived with safety improvements like propane replacing natural gas.
The Forest Park Balloon Race Begins
In December 1973, the Forest Park Balloon Race started with six balloons and 20 spectators, organized by Nikki Caplan and John O’Toole among friends.
The Fab Four and Growth of the Event
By 1977, the “Fab Four” — Ted Staley, John Schaumberg, Dan Schettler, and John Marlow — had bought a used balloon and started attending races.
They took over the Forest Park Balloon Race, organizing it into the event it is today.
John Schaumberg described its growth:
“The race kind of grew organically. No one had any idea it would end up where it has. We just conscripted local pilots, then decided if there are commercial balloons, we could charge sponsorships to fund it. We made a connection with Forest Park. Every year more people got involved, more sponsors involved. It just grew. The race pretty much runs itself now, too. Each man has a job to do, either taking care of the pilots with gifts, accommodations, good food and a party; organizing the balloon glow; running the race itself; or managing publicity.”
Sponsorship and Community Support
Dan Schettler convinced KMOX radio to sponsor a balloon, starting a tradition of company-sponsored balloons.
Sponsorship helped fund insurance, event planning, awards, security, and clean-up.
How the Race Works
The race is a hare and hound style:
The hare balloon launches first and lands first, placing a large X on the ground.
The hound balloons try to drop bean bags as close to the X’s center as possible.
The closest bean bag wins.
Hounds then find safe landing spots, which have included parking lots, backyards (including Chuck Berry’s!), parks, and even a convent.
Race Details and Safety
The race is capped at 70 balloons and is by invitation only.
Pilots must be highly experienced and FAA-certified due to the urban location and tricky take-offs and landings.
The FAA approves the event and monitors it by helicopter at 3,000 feet.
Pilots can fly over Lambert Field’s international airspace but are asked to avoid landing on runways.
Why September, Not December?
Early pilots knew December weather was poor for ballooning—cold, wet, windy.
The Fab Four contacted the weather service, learning the third weekend in September had the best flying conditions.
The Balloon Glow Tradition
Started in 1997, the Balloon Glow is held Friday evening before the race.
Balloons are inflated and lit at dusk in Forest Park—a truly magical sight.
(I finally attended this year and highly recommend it!)
Spectating the Race
The race isn’t confined to Forest Park.
On race day, balloons can be seen flying over the metro area, seeking the X and dropping bean bags.
Some locals even host balloon parties to watch the colorful spectacle.
Recognition and Legacy
In May 2000, the Forest Park Balloon Race was inducted into the Library of Congress’s American Folklife Center, honoring its local significance.
The Center archives photos, programs, posters, videos, pins, and pilot gifts from the race.
In September of 2022, the race celebrated its 50th anniversary, continuing to attract thousands of spectators.
You can find more at:
Twitter: @showme_history
Facebook: ShowMeHistorySTL
Until next time, I’ll see you in the Lou.