About Us

Liberty Balloon Company was founded in 1977 by former US Navy aviator Carroll Teitsworth. From the beginning, it has been a family friendly business. In addition to providing an always exciting atmosphere for kids, many of those who have taken a ride, trained with us or served as crew have become like family as well.

What began as a curiosity blossomed into a business. By the early 80’s, ballooning was a full-time endeavor for the Teitsworths. In addition to offering balloon rides, Carroll developed a ground school for preparing aspiring pilots to pass the FAA written exam.

In the early 90’s, Liberty Balloon Co. expanded to contract with REMAX to fly their balloon throughout New York State.

During that same period, Carroll developed a school assembly program designed to bring the magic of ballooning into primary and secondary schools so that students of all ages could get a close up experience with a real hot air balloon.

Tethered balloons at events, traveling to balloon festivals around the country, giving flight training to new pilots: all these and more were part of the ballooning experience offered by Carroll, now joined by his kids and grandkids.

His daughter Lisa joined him as office manager as the business grew beyond what one person could manage administratively. Sons Lee and Lance completed their flight training and became pilots, eventually joining the company full time. Daughter Liana also got her pilot certificate and along with her husband Jim established Blue Ridge Balloon in Charlottesville, VA.

Lee’s wife Jill contributes social media content. Lisa’s husband Tim manages merchandise and apparel and runs passenger check in at the launch site. Grandkids and cousins ride in chase vehicles and grab droplines. It’s a true family enterprise!

In 2018, Liberty Balloon Company expanded their ride offerings by purchasing Balloons Over Letchworth from Sean Quigley, longtime friend and former student of Carroll’s.

To us, flying is more than a business. Ballooning is a lifelong passion, and a constant reminder of God’s gentleness, majesty and blessing. We hope if you do business with us, or just stop to watch us floating by, you will find some measure of these same inspirations as well.