Customers look for refunds after Butler hot air balloon business closes
Customers of Butler Ballooning say they are left without answers or refunds after the business that offered hot air balloon rides in Butler County appears to have closed.
The Butler Eagle recently spoke with four customers who claimed they purchased tickets and were working to get refunds — with mixed results — through their credit card companies after they say they unsuccessfully contacted owner Daniel Claudon about potential refunds.
Claudon launched Butler Ballooning in summer 2024 to offer hot air balloon rides at altitudes of around 2,500 feet from the Butler Farm Show grounds, charging $300 per ticket, which many customers bought well in advance as they said they believed the tickets could be redeemed within a year.
A June post to a Facebook page associated with Butler Ballooning indicates the business closed due to tariffs.
“I never thought this would happen because of how communicative he was,” said Ashley Ferrainolo, a professor at the Community College of Allegheny County who had purchased tickets.
Ferrainolo said she purchased her tickets in early December as a Christmas present for her 79-year-old father, a cancer survivor.
“My dad was really excited about the experience,” she said. “It’s something he’s wanted to do since he was 20 years old.”
Ferrainolo planned to use the tickets in August or September. She said she was told the tickets would be valid for a year after purchase. When she went to schedule the flight, she discovered the website was offline and the business logo on its Facebook page was changed.
Randal Kight, a Citizens Bank customer, said he never received a refund. He purchased two tickets for $600 on Sept. 1, 2024, and booked an October flight, but the friend he was going with became sick and the two had to reschedule.
Kight said he asked for a refund in December and Claudon told him the tickets would be valid for another year.
The last time Kight heard from Claudon was in December, he said. He recalled reaching out to Claudon in July to schedule a flight.
“I was a little misled,” Kight said. “I’ve never had this happen before.”
Kight said his credit card company wouldn’t issue a refund because it had been too long since he bought the tickets. He said the lengthy history of piloting that appeared on the business’ Facebook page made him think it was reliable.
Jon Frew, who’s been around ballooning for about 40 years, had different feelings about Claudon’s business.
“It’s just a shame because it makes other balloonists look bad,” said Frew, who said he has worked for several balloon pilots and at a balloon inspection station.
Ken Laughlin, Butler Farm Show board president, said he signed a permit for Claudon to take off from the Butler Farm Show grounds but didn’t interact with him much further.
The Butler Eagle attempted to reach Claudon through his business’ Facebook page, his personal Facebook page, his business’ phone number, by email and by visiting his home, which had a for-sale sign outside.
