zReports Research Institute · Updated August 2026
16 balloon ride operators operate within 150 miles of Des Moines, Iowa, sorted by distance below. Every one has a free zReports records page built from federal NTSB accident data under the mandatory reporting rule. Reviews can be managed by the business; the federal record cannot. No operator can pay to be listed, ranked, or removed.
1. Kevin Mart · Altoona, IA · ~8 mi
2. King Gary D · Altoona, IA · ~8 mi
3. Denise Bowles · Indianola, IA · ~17 mi
4. Freedom Balloon Rides · Indianola, IA · ~17 mi
5. Freedom Flight · Indianola, IA · ~17 mi
6. National Balloon Classic · Indianola, IA · ~17 mi
7. Reinert Michael P · Indianola, IA · ~17 mi
8. Serenity Ballooning · Indianola, IA · ~17 mi
9. Team Flyinkoat Hot Air Balloons · Indianola, IA · ~17 mi
10. Diamondjake Ballooning Dba · Mingo, IA · ~21 mi
11. Rides Bar & Grill · Fort Dodge, IA · ~69 mi
12. Dock Built Homes · Hudson, IA · ~81 mi
Before you book: open any operator above and run the free A to Z Check. It pulls the operator's federal accident history, if any exists, and audits it against public reputation. 1 click, no login, free.
zReports maintains a records page for every US balloon ride operator on file, cross-matched at load time against the NTSB accident database. This page lists the operators whose home city sits within 150 miles of Des Moines city center, nearest first. Distances are measured between city centers and are a drive-planning guide, not door-to-door mileage. Operators are never contacted, never notified, and cannot pay to change what a record shows.
The nearest operators to Des Moines are Kevin Mart (Altoona, IA, 8 miles), King Gary D (Altoona, IA, 8 miles), Denise Bowles (Indianola, IA, 17 miles). In total, 16 operators sit within 150 miles.
Every operator listed here has a free zReports page built from federal NTSB accident records under the mandatory reporting rule (49 CFR Part 830). Open any operator above and run the free A to Z Check. Reviews can be managed by the business; the federal record cannot.
Distances are measured between city centers, from Des Moines, IA to each operator's listed city. Use them as a drive-planning guide, not door-to-door mileage.