07-04-2025
National Balloon Museum makes progress one-year after fire
INDIANOLA, Iowa — One year after a fire delayed the grand reopening of the National Balloon Museum, its staff is planning for a new opening day.
Last year, the Indianola museum was undergoing renovations and planned to reopen on April 6, 2024. However, an electrical fire just one week before set the timeline back.
The museum's operations manager, Kendra Minks, said that while the fire started in an outlet close to the entrance of the museum, the smoke ruined everything that was inside.
Over the last year, they stripped the building down to its studs and rebuilt, according to Minks.
The museum will still follow the same layout they planned to have last year, a timeline that will take the public through the history of hot air ballooning.
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The stained glass window was one of the only things that was saved in the fire, which Minks said they're grateful for because the artist who created it has since passed away.
A local artist repainted a mural at the museum's entrance, which was ruined in the fire.
They still need to finish the flooring before they can redecorate.
The total cost of restoration so far is just shy of $2 million. Minks said most of the restoration efforts came through insurance.
The community is also helping play a role in restoring the museum. Donations from the public will be used to purchase new artifacts and display items.
All the artifacts that were in the museum during the fire are currently in Michigan being restored, cleaned, and assessed. Minks said they're not sure yet how many of these artifacts will be back on display.
'We aren't totally for sure yet what everything will look like, how it will look. We'll know all that once everything returns from Michigan, and we have a chance to just look at it, feel it, touch it, and just get a feel for the condition that it's in,' said Minks.
When construction finishes inside, Minks said they will return the artifacts and decide what can stay on display. Other items will be returned to the folks who donated them.
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A poker tournament and silent auction in October helped the museum raise $5,000.
People outside of Iowa are also helping. The Winker Family donated $250,000 to the museum in October.
'We were not expecting it. So, it was a complete surprise, and we were just astounded at the generosity of the Winker family and appreciate everything that they have donated,' said Minks.
Staff is tentatively planning to reopen The National Balloon Museum in time for the National Ballon Classic this year, which starts on July 25.
Community members can still donate to the museum to help purchase new artifacts.
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