Balloon Platoon in Parking Lot - now the Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa

On the 14th of April, 1969 the Balloon Platoon Balloonist Club from Bloomfield Hills, MI brought their one-man balloon propelled contraption to Boyne Mountain Resort. They proceeded to entertain spring skiers by inflating one of the balloons and lifting the pilot almost 800 feet in the air. At that time there were 100 balloons in the United States, per a Petoskey News Review article written that day. Once they retrieved the man and balloon in a nearby field, the crew headed back to ski and enjoy the fresh powder.

The Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa now sits where that parking lot was located.

Another fun aerial activity that was available in the mid 1970s here at Boyne Mountain Resort: touring northwestern Michigan by air in the Boyne Country Mallard! The 10 passenger plane would fly over Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls, Boyne City and Charlevoix. Then it would swoop out over Lake Michigan to pass above Beaver Island and Fox Island, then head back in to Petoskey and Harbor Springs with a pass over The Highlands. After going over the Straits and viewing the Mackinac Bridge, the tour would then land on Mackinac Island for a horse-drawn carriage ride. What a luxurious tour!

📸 Attached Media:

-"Ballooning Skiers Make Ascent at Boyne" photo from the Petoksey News Review on April 14, 1969

-"Tour Northwestern Michigan By Air" photo and text from the Boyne Country Summer-Fall Services and Activities Directory, 1970s

-Photo of Skiers at Boyne Mountain Resort from Boyne Mountain Resort Archives

-Photos of the Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa in different seasons from Boyne Mountain Resort Archives

🏃Turn back around and walk toward the Clocktower Lodge. You’ll be walking with the pond on your left and Boyne Realty on your right. Continue past the Adventure Center and the main village lane. Walk beside Boyne Country Sports and up a little hill toward the Trophy Room Pub & Pizzeria.

📚 Bibliography: ₹ β ♥