ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The majority of Fiesta-goers have to deal with pre-dawn traffic and crowds, but “Glamping” gives people an option to skip the hassle and roll out of bed right next to the balloons.
It started in 2018 with Balloon Fiesta leaders looking for a way to let people experience the magic while staying near the park grounds. “We started out with 12 tents and you can see the layout here. 12 tents was kind of a neat intimate little thing,” ‘The Camp Guy’ David Medina said.
Those 12 tents have more than doubled to 26, in what the fiesta calls ‘Glamping.’ This lets some guests ditch the traffic for a nearby campsite that gives people a chance to wake up and walk over to the launch field. “It was literally about five and a half minutes cause we got the shuttle and shot right down to the filed and we were right there,” glamping resident Jody Clark said.
People filter in and out of the tents throughout the event. Tents are equipped with a queen-size bed, parking and everything you need to get comfortable. Jody Clark booked three days of glamping, hoping to experience everything Balloon Fiesta has to offer from the mass ascensions to the glows. “I love it, it’s been a great alternative. When we looked at all of the other options we kind of narrowed it down, and we’re not typically campers,” Clark said.
Medina said a couple of glampers have been back multiple years. Glamping comes with a $1,600 price tag, but Clark says the cost is worth it. “I would definitely recommend anybody try the glamping. It’s not as rough as you would think, even for those ‘hotel-er’ type people. I think the glamping is a cool alternative.
For the 2024 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, glamping spots sold out in less than eight minutes.
