Bluff City Balloons

06/07/2026

Sisters in Skydiving

West Tn Skydive.

05/30/2026

Just when I thought that there’s nothing new under Bluff City Balloons’ sun, the owner of yesterday’s tether event venue has a pet deer who was unafraid of Skip, the Crew, me, the inflation fan, the burners, the all of it. Willow (her name is Willow) was pesky. She strode back and forth across the envelope at her leisure. Honestly, I was petrified of her, but Skip insisted that giving her a pat or two made me a team player. Ballooning…it never gets old!

05/20/2026

05/20/2026

Good Dampish Morning, Friends! I’m slightly embarrassed as today’s missive touts my altruism in offering a solution to Skip’s dilemma at great inconvenience to my-own-self. Skip is really busy doing what he does to take exceptional care of a high maintenance wife, a Demon Dog, and the two adorable Miniature Monsters. Lately he’s needed to head out to the dealership earlier than usual. However, Lucy expects to be on leash and hitting the sidewalk for her morning trot around 9:30. Why 9:30? Because she doesn’t roll out of bed until 9:00. Thus it is the custom of the Durham household that the Dynamic Duo take their morning walk at 9:30. Unfortunately for the four legged half of the duo the two legged half can no longer linger until 9:30.

After a fair amount of consideration, I told
Skip that he can count on me to take his
mangy mutt for her usual morning walk every day. EVERY DAY!!

This morning, when promptly at 9:30, I announced that it was “promenade time” Skip was taken aback. It was, at that time, heavy sprinkling. I must say, Dear Friends, I was taken aback that he was taken aback. The Demon Dog and I endure our morning walk EVERY DAY no matter the all of it.

To show off just a little, I nonchalantly grabbed my raincoat, and off the Demon Dog and I went. Today is just another EVERY DAY.

An Aside: my fabulous raincoat is an
actual raincoat. It’s a lovely
grape color is trimmed with
an image of a Monet painting.
I purchased it in the gift shop
at the Naples Art Institute in
Naples, FL., and I paid Naples
price for it!

Skip couldn’t believe that I was actually walking Lucy in the rain so he documented it.

Please see photos below:

03/22/2026

Yippee! It’s that time of the year -
Ballooning Season! Skip and I are looking forward to you stepping into the basket, and flying in either “Mischief” whose flower garden is in full bloom, or “High Jinx” whose Crayola Colors will brighten your day! We see blue skies and fair winds coming your way!

Phone or text Toni Durham at:

901-481-7367

to schedule your ride!

We look forward to flying with you soon!

02/14/2026

If you’re looking for a unique setting for wedding photos, or photos for all occasions then consider posing with a hot air balloon. We offer a package that includes poses both on the balloon and with the balloon inflated. The basket can be decorated with flowers, twinkle lights, and banners. We’ll work with your photographer to create one of a kind pictures designed just for you!

Both “High Jinx” (the yellow balloon) and
“Mischief” (the flower garden) are available.

Contact me, Toni Durham, 901-481-7367 for additional information.

02/12/2026

Bluff City Balloons bring Skip and I immense pleasure in the most unexpected ways. We always fly sometime in October to mark our anniversary. One of our most memorable anniversary celebrations was on 10.8.2017,. It was our 6th. After a superb flight, Skip then executed a perfect “kiss the earth” landing on a soccer field, but his timing could not have been worse. Just as he set the balloon down, the sprinkler system began to sprinkle in what felt like fire hose mode. We had no choice but for a soaked crew to pack up a soaked “High Jinx” into her soaked bag. At one point during the pack up a soaked me was instructed to put my foot on a sprinkler in order to redirect the water direction. I was grateful that it was a warm winter day!

Fast forward eight years, Skip and I continue to enjoy a happy marriage, and Bluff City Balloons continues to provide our passengers an excellent experience flying over the greater Collierville area.

If you are interested in enjoying a hot air ballooning adventure, please call me:

Toni Durham - 901-481-7367

02/12/2026

What is a perfect gift for your Valentine? A
hot a balloon ride, of course!
Our ride package includes:

An hour ride
A post-flight celebration
The customary pilot’s toast
Chocolate dipped strawberries
Breakfast following morning rides
Hot appetizers and cheese & fruit platter

A gift bag including a bottle of champagne

Our gift certificate has no expiration date.

Call me purchase a certificate. If you live in the greater Memphis area or in Mississippi then I will deliver the certificate to you.

Please call me, Toni Durham - 901-481-7367

01/18/2026

Bluff City Balloons kicked off the 2026 ballooning season with the Mayer Family. Rob phoned me on Friday to inquire about scheduling a surprise birthday ride for his wife, Emily. I took a look at the forecast, and told him that Sunday morning looked perfect as long as temperatures in the teens were tolerable. He said that cold wasn’t a problem. Once again, I explained that 18 degrees isn’t just chilly, it’s downright Canada cold. He assured me that he was really okay with cold. Rob said that he’d make sure Emily, and the kiddos bundled up. And he did!

With the exception of, perhaps, inflating Mischief in artic cold weather, this morning was perfect for a balloon ride. The Mayer family was, indeed, blessed with fair winds and blue skies!

I chitchatted with Emily (briefly, it was cold!) following their post-flight sparkling cider pilot’s champagne toast. I asked if she was happy with her birthday surprise, and she emphatically said yes! That’s all that I needed to hear. Well done, Mischief! Well done, crew - Matt & Donovan! Well done, Skip!

Today’s flight is a fabulous start to our 15th season!

Please enjoy the photos below: