Green Zones
L1 Soaring Wings Winery just south of Springfield, NE. Winery owner Jim Shaw has graciously granted permission to launch from the winery grounds if you contact him first. The Soaring Wings Winery phone number is 402-253-2479, and Jim Shaw's cell phone number is 402-699-2057.
L2 Lake Zorinsky from center of loop near the boat docks. Enter park from 156th and F Street (click for map).
L3 Chalco Hills (Wehrspann Lake)- adjacent to soccer fields on east side of the dam (click for map). Hot air balloon launches by permit only. NOTE: GATES CLOSED AND LOCKED AT 10 PM.
L4 Standing Bear Lake - north side of the lake - enter from 132nd Street (click for map). Launch area is the grassy slope just south of the restroom building. The unmowed grass just north of this loop provides better wind protection, but be aware of numerous small trees and possible standing water.
L5 Waterloo, NE - behind Great Western Bank (click for map) northeast of 240th and Cedar Drive. Note the red zone (PZ 9) immediately to the south of this launch site.
L6 Council Bluffs Airport - Launch from area adjacent to road (see map). Contact Airport Manager Dan Smith (712) 322-2284 before arrival to advise.
L7 Christensen Field, Fremont, NE - Launch from grassy area south of the baseball field and west of the RV parking lot (click for map). Check the Christensen Field Calendar for information about horse shows and other equestrian activities taking place. Since this is adjacent to Fremont Municpal Airport (KFET), listen for and advise local air traffic on frequency 122.8 prior to launch.
L8 Milliken Park, Fremont, NE - Park property south of the elementary school (click for map). Again, due to proximity of Fremont Muncipal Airport, advise local air traffic on frequency 122.8 prior to launch.
L9 Plattview High School - 10/23/2006 The following received from Rich Jaworski: "We do not have official permission to launch from Platteview High School. I waited for others to submit the required info and ended up being too busy to submit anyone's. The superintendent retired last summer so I will have to start all over. I have been launching from the parking lot without driving off the pavement. No one has told us "no" so be careful and proceed." (click for map).
L10 Elkhorn Jr. High School - Greeley and W. Cleveland Streets.
L11 Bundie's - Robert Bundie's, North of Hwy 6 opposite Linoma Beach. No more than 2 balloons at one time. Call 332-3616 to obtain permission.
L12 Childers - Wayne & Geraldine Childers on Angus Road just west of Gretna. Call 332-5595 to obtain permission to launch from their yard.
L13 Ditmar's Orchard - 19475 225th St, Council Bluffs, IA (click for map) Directions: 1) Take I-80 to the east side of Council Bluffs, 2) Exit at Exit 8 (Highway 6 and Iowa Western Community College); 3) Go east on Highway 6 to the first left turn, Hunt Avenue; 4) Follow the turns on Hunt Avenue about 3/4 mile to the triangular grassy area in the intersection of Hunt Ave and 225th Street. 5) Proceed North on 225th Street about 0.2 miles; 6) Ditmar's Orchard is the first driveway on the right, East, side of 225th Street. The balloon launch area is east of the large building. Please call Lyle Ditmar, (712) 256-7053 to obtain permission.
Prohibited Zones - NO LANDING
PZ 1 - Please avoid landing in, and overflights below 500', in the area between 222nd Street and the Elkhorn River, from F Street to 1/4 mile south. Area is directly south of "The Farm" housing development at 222nd and F Streets.
PZ 2 - We've also been asked not to land in the area south of Ida Street, from 168th to 180th, and along the west side of 180th street from Ida to 1/2 mile south of Ida.
PZ 3 - Along the west bank of the Platte River north of Ashland are several private lakes (Big Sandy Lake and Thomas Lakes), as well as the National Guard Camp. These are gated communities, and pilots are advised to avoid landing in these areas.
PZ 4 - South of Arlington, NE, on the east side of the Elkhorn River valley, avoid landing in the area of the intersection of CR-15 and CR-38. (This is near the microwave relay tower.) The Schmidt family farms in this area and are not friendly to anyone entering their fields without permission.
PZ 5 - Southwest of Gretna, the first field on the south side of Capehart Road from just east of the railroad tracks to approximately 3/4 mile west of Highway 6/31. This 20 acre field is off-limits for landing. On August 19, 2006, two pilots each paid $100 to the landowner in compensation for alleged damage to the alfalfa growing in this field.
PZ 6 - From the intersection of 168th and Ruff Road in Sarpy County, north side of Ruff Road 1/2 mile east and west of the intersection, and the east side of 168th Street to 3/4 mile north of Ruff Road. A total of three 40-acre plots owned by Gary Krapp; the house is on Ruff Road. This is a long-extant red zone a little over a mile to the south of the Timmerman feedlot at 168th and Plattview Road; generally an area to avoid.
PZ 7 - Immedately north of King Lake, between 252nd Street and the Elkhorn River, from Ida Street north 3/4 mile.
PZ 8 - West of Waterloo, NE of the corner of 270th and Blondo. From Blondo north to Maple, east side of 270th Street.
PZ 9 - Directly south of our launch site in Waterloo, east side of Highway 275, both north and south of Blondo St.
PZ 10 - Between N 78th and N 72nd Streets, north of Dutch Hall Road.
PZ 11 - East of the Wal-Mart at I-680 and Blair High Road (Hwy 133), south side of Blair High Road.
PZ 12 - The M.U.D. facility at 120th and Fort. Fenced & locked, this is not an area in which to land.
PZ 13 - Southwest corner of 120th and State Streets. West from 120th Street to the creek, and south from State Street to the golf course.
PZ 14 - Removed from list.
PZ 15 - West of Highway 6/31 (204th Street) between West Center Road and Pacific Streets.
PZ 16 - Northwest of Gretna, west of 225th Street and south of Cary Road. Large horse stables and numerous horses in pastures. Avoid flights below 500' in this area.
PZ 17 - Timmerman Cattle Company - West of Springfield, between 168th and 180th Streets along Platteview Road. Avoid flight below 500' over the cattle lots on the south side of Platteview Road, and no landing in the field immediately north of Plattview and east of 180th Street. See also PZ 6.
PZ 18 - Immediately south of Springfield, NE, south of Pflug road and west of 138th Street.
PZ 19 - East of Springfield, northwest from the corner of 96th and Platteview Road.
PZ 20 - Approximately 2 miles north of Blair Airport (Eagle Field), east of State Highway 133 (Blair High Road) and south of CR-32.
PZ 21 - NE of Crescent, IA, east of County Highway 20 and between Leisure Avenue & Mahogany Road. A cattle feedlot is at the corner of Mahogany and Highway 20, and livetock in pastures just across the road down to Leisure Ave.
PZ 22 - Three miles east of Arlington, NE, near intersection of County Roads 32 and 17. A large cattle feedlot; avoid flight below 500'.
PZ 23 - Southwest of Harrison Street (dead end) to 240th Street. Unfriendly tenant farmer. Added Nov. 17, 2007
Restricted Access Areas - NO LANDING
Fremont Municipal Well Field - Southeast of Fremont between Highway 275 and the Platte River, just to the South and West of Reichmuth Road (old Hwy 275) and River Road. Fenced, locked gates, NO ACCESS.
Note: Nearly all of the area south of this between Highway 275 and the Platte River down to Highway 64 at Valley is fenced, private property. Best to avoid landing between 275 and the river.
Ashland National Guard Camp - On the west bank of the Platte River just north of Highway 6. There are two gated communities just north of this as well (see PZ 3).
US Military Reservation - Three miles north of Memphis, NE bounded by CR-6 & CR-7 on the east and west, CR-F on the south, and extending 1/2 mile north of CR-G.
National Guard Training Area - Three miles east of Mead, NE, two miles south of Highway 92, bounded by CR-7 & CR-8 on the east and west, CR-K on the north, and extending 1/2 mile south of CR-J.
Lincoln Water System Well Field - South side of Highway 6, west side of the Platte River (across the river from Linoma Beach). Posted, locked gates, NO ACCESS.
OPPD Fort Calhoun Power Plant - Approximately 2 miles SE of Blair, NE between US Hwy 75 and the Missouri River. Stay at least 2000 feet AGL (above ground level) in this area if you cannot avoid it entirely. DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge (see below) is just across the river, and also requires a minimum 2000 foot clearance.
DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge - Across the Missouri River from Blair, NE, south of US Hwy 30, and Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge east of the town of Fort Calhoun from US 75 east to the Missouri River. Landing of aircraft is prohibited on lands administered by the National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, or US Forest Service without authorization from the respective agency. In addition, pilots are requested to maintain a minimum altitude of 2000 feet above the surface of National Wildlife Refuges.
Eastern Nebraska Gun Club Range is on the north side of Highway 66, 2.5 miles east of Louisville, NE. This is an active gun range, including high-power rifles, and is just about 2 miles due south of Soaring Wings Winery. If you plan on flying in this area, check the range schedule as a precaution. Even if there is not a meet scheduled, avoid landing here as the gates are locked.
Dec. 17, 2005 - One pilot's recent encounter with goose hunters near Valley, NE brings up the following reminder. During hunting season(s), be observant of, and avoid if possible, active hunting blinds, decoy sets, and hunters in fields. While on a flight during the fall of 2006, near South Bend, NE several of us chanced upon a deer hunter in a tree stand. Fortunately, he spotted the balloons as they came up the draw, nearly at his eye level, and he put up his rifle until all were well clear.
Cautionary Zones - LANDING ONLY WITH PRIOR PERMISSION
C1 In contrast to the PZ on the east side of the Elkhorn (see PZ 1 above), we have had a good relationship with the sod farm caretaker and landowners at McDermott Turf Farms (The Grass Pad) on the west side of the Elkhorn River along Highway 92 west of Highway 275. They do ask that you contact them before landing or driving on to the field; at certain times, the ground may be soft from irrigation, and access will not be granted. If they have not been irrigating, you may be given permission to enter and recover the balloon, if you call and ask permission. Contact 402-510-6054 or 402-510-5398.
C2 Marvin Ostransky's property is directly north of Springfield, NE, and runs from Platteview Rd to Fairview Rd. and 132nd St. east to Springfield Creek. If you plan to fly in the Springfield area, please contact Mr. Ostransky to determine whether it is permissible to land in this mile section. His home number is 402-339-4391, and cell phone is 402-680-6298.
C3 Mallard Sand & Gravel, 270th & Maple Rd, between Valley and Waterloo. Dan Rogert has said that for EMERGENCY landings they would allow us the use of the sand pit and would open gates for our chase crews if necessary. Office number is 359-5242, or after hours 510-9082.
C4 If you plan to land at the sod farm south-east of Highway 36 and 264th Street, 4 miles due north of Valley, please call Bill O'Dell at 402-359-5618 to obtain permission to land. Please keep vehicles off the sod areas, and if the ground is soft from rain or irrigation, please don't land here.
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Most recent update 10:21 PM 2/28/2008.
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