As summer starts to wind down, Michigan skies are heating up — literally. For those looking to end the season on a high note, Legacy Ballooning offers an unforgettable experience above the treetops, where sunsets stretch for miles and adventure takes flight.
Based in Troy and flying out of the Milford and South Lyon areas, Legacy Ballooning (legacyballooning.com) is Michigan’s only female-owned and operated hot air balloon-ride business. At the helm is Dawn McKenzie, a second-generation balloon pilot with more than 25 years of flying experience and a passion for sharing the sky.
“I grew up in the sport,” McKenzie said. “My dad ran FlyBalloons.net for more than four decades, and I was the only girl in a family of seven balloonists. I started crewing for him when I was a kid.”
That family legacy and her deep roots in Michigan’s ballooning community fuel her business today.
While many balloon rides involve large baskets packed with tourists, Legacy Ballooning offers something far more intimate: private flights.
“Think of it like the difference between a private jet and flying Spirit Airlines,” McKenzie said. “When you book with me, it's your adventure.”
Each flight is a three-hour experience that begins with a quick ride from a meet-up spot in a chase vehicle to the launch site. After about 20 minutes of balloon inflation, passengers lift off and drift peacefully for 45 minutes to an hour, catching views of shimmering lakes, wandering wildlife and woodlands from above. The journey ends with a gentle landing, a toast of champagne and a celebratory return to where it all began.
The magic, though, is more than the view. It’s the silence. It’s the feeling of floating.
“There’s no steering wheel,” McKenzie says. “The wind decides where we go. You’re just up there, watching the world wake up or wind down. It’s surreal.”
Flights are scheduled at sunrise or just before sunset to catch the calmest winds and most beautiful light. McKenzie flies primarily on weekends but offers some weekday slots, too. Ballooning is highly weather-dependent, so flexibility is key. McKenzie stays in close contact with riders, updating them as the date approaches.
“Sometimes we know the night before if the weather’s a go. Other times, we’re making that call just hours before launch.“
As one of just 15 pilots nationwide invited to compete in the U.S. Women’s National Hot Air Balloon Championship, McKenzie is more than just a scenic tour guide — she’s an expert in flight dynamics and safety. She’s earned her FAA commercial pilot license, completed extensive ground school and in-air instruction and passed a rigorous flight test just like a fixed-wing pilot, but specialized for balloons.
And while many riders are checking off a bucket list dream, others are celebrating proposals, birthdays and anniversaries.
“We see a lot of group gifts,” she says. “Kids chipping in to give their parents a ride. Or someone who’s wanted to do it forever. People remember this for the rest of their lives.”
McKenzie’s passion doesn’t end in the sky. She also competes at hot air balloon festivals across the country and is now passing the flame to the next generation — her twin sons, who often crew alongside her.
For those who want a keepsake beyond memories, Legacy Ballooning offers an optional video package with 360-degree footage of the entire flight. It’s an immersive souvenir that brings the sky back down to earth.
As Michigan's warm days dwindle and the scent of fall begins to creep in, there’s still time for one last summer thrill. And whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, a flight with Legacy Ballooning promises something rare: peace, wonder and a perspective you’ll never forget.