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Map Page
Frequent Launch Sites
CTBA Club Flights, and many individual adventures, often begin at one of a few customary launch sites. These sites have adequate space for safe operation, and usual wind patterns lead to areas with suitable landing sites. The Google link below shows red zones (areas where balloons should not land or launch for one reason or another) and green zones where it is okay to land or launch.
Old Settlers Park in Round Rock
Old Settler's Park is East of Round Rock on Highway 79 about halfway to Hutto, next to Dell Diamond. The entrance is on the North side of the highway, and is marked by a stone gate and signs. Pilots usually meet in the Old Settlers' Campground parking lot on the left. Another meeting location is the old pavilion by the lakeside, past the camp ground, across the creek, and past the soccer fields.
If the old pavilion is in use, we might meet at the newer pavilion just east of the main road, and south of the lake. (see map below)
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Old Settler's Association
This small launch field is close to Hwy 79, on the west side of the entrance to Dell Diamond.
Behind Graham Elementary School
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CTBA General Meeting Site
Tres Amigos Restaurant at Hwy 290 & Hwy 183
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Mansfield Dam (Lake Travis)
Mansfield Dam Park is the meeting area preceeding the Lake Travis flight. Launches are sited according to wind direction. Entrance to the park is to the north off FM-620 immediatly west of Mansfield Dam. We meet at the west end of the dam half hour before sunrise.
Wildseed Farms
East of Fredricksburg, TX
Below is a tourist map of the area
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Zilker Park - occasional meeting place for balloon demonstrations
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If you are interested in maps, check out Open Street Map, an open source mapping project.
Want to fly from an Austin park?
Per Austin Parks and Recreation, the requirements for a balloon to launch or land in an Austin park are as follows:
• A $60 rental fee is required, regardless of whether the flight is with paying passengers or for sport
• Confirmation that this is either a commercial or private flight. Commercial flights require a commercial pilot’s license. Provide valid pilot license.
• Coordination of time, place and manner so as NOT to interfere with regular reservations
- this includes date, specific location, impact to grounds by equipment
- discussion of tethering plan (balloons)
- 974-6797 Parks Reservations
8:30 am – 4:30 pm daily, Monday through Friday – excluding holidays
• List City of Austin as additional insured with a minimum bodily injury and property damage per occurrence limit of $500,000; waiver of Transfer Right of Recovery Against Others in favor of the City of Austin
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