What rises 180 feet above the Las Vegas Strip and glows with more than a mile of neon? It is the Paris Balloon, of course. This isn’t just any balloon. It’s a meticulously crafted homage to the Montgolfier brothers’ pioneering spirit.
The Paris Balloon is a signature sign. It greets visitors at the Paris Las Vegas hotel and casino. Its design echoes the first passenger-carrying hot air balloon. This balloon floated across 18th-century Paris.
Picture this. The year is 1783. The Montgolfier brothers noticed heated air made paper bags rise. This simple observation sparked a revolution. They experimented and soon launched a silk balloon. It was lined with paper from the marketplace. This balloon stayed aloft for ten minutes. It traveled over a mile.
News of this spectacle reached King Louis XVI. A demonstration was planned. The brothers enlisted a wallpaper designer. They built a taffeta balloon. It was coated with alum for fireproofing. Golden flourishes, zodiac signs, and suns decorated it. These symbolized the king. A sheep, a duck, and a rooster were passengers. The balloon traveled two miles in eight minutes. 130,000 people witnessed this. The king and Marie Antoinette were among them.
The Paris Balloon in Las Vegas captures this moment. It is a fixed balloon. It boasts a 72-foot diameter. It is mounted on an Omni-Hub spaceframe floor. This creates a unique signature structure.
Look closer. The skin is flexible material. It features hand-painted and vinyl graphics. These create the illusion of early hot air balloons. Below the balloon, a gondola displays a dynamic digital sign.
The CST / Federal Sign Team launched this marvel. It presented a one-of-a-kind engineering challenge. Engineers provided six inches of flex in the balloon-to-gondola cables. There were 400 pounds of tension. Three engineering teams collaborated. The result has been enjoyed by millions.
Joel Bergman was the architect. Perini Construction was the general contractor. The Paris Balloon stands as the second CST project on this site. The first was the design of the half-scale Eiffel Tower. It stands proudly behind the balloon entranceway sign.
The Paris Balloon reminds us of France’s fabled stories. It symbolizes mankind’s first forays into flight. Its illuminated presence pays tribute to the Montgolfier brothers’ legacy. Next time you see it, remember the ingenuity. Remember the spectacle that started it all. Feel the spirit of adventure. That’s the spirit of the Paris Balloon.