About Balloon Waco!

 

Balloon Waco! is a family owned and operated company, and is the only commercial balloon ride operation in the Waco area.

Owner and pilot Ron Frusher has 25 years and more than 1700 hours as a hot air balloon pilot, instructor, and safety officer. In 2007, he was Number one ranked balloon pilot in the country, and has won the Oklahoma State Championship and placed as high as 8^th at the “big one”—the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. In 2007, he was one of a handful of pilots worldwide chosen to fly in the first balloon event in Israel in more than 20 years.

From 1984 to 1995, Ron and his wife, Becky, owned and operated a large commercial balloon ride operation in Southern California, taking up hundreds of passengers a year. Including a few you might recognize…Marlin Fitzgerald, Karen Black, Andy Garcia, and David Gilmore.

Ron flew exclusive contracts with major resort balloons, including The Ritz Carlton, the Westin Mission Hills Resort, and the Marriott Rancho Las Palmas. He’s also made balloon appearances in TVshows, movies and commercials.

Ron is currently the manager of the Curves Hot Air Balloon Program & Tour, as well as its chief pilot. His full-time job takes him to balloon events all over the world, where he represents Curves International and flies for local independently owned franchisees.

The Frusher kids are also involved, and crew whenever they can. Noah, 18, is a freshman at TSTC studying Computer Science Technology. Hayley, 15, attends Texas Christian Academy. Both have been around balloons since they were little. In fact, Hayley took her first ride before she was born (oops!) and was named for the balloon that her parents met in—Haley’s Comet!