The third Balloon Manor opened at the Medley Centre, (a suburban shopping mall) with a new name - RE/MAX of New York, INC., Balloon Manor 2007. The attraction remained open through Sunday, October 28. This year's theme was "Elastic Park - the World's First-Ever Balloon Scream Park," and includes a Scairy-Go-Round, a Dino Coaster and more.
Balloon Manors 2004 and 2006 attracted more than 14,000 visitors and international media attention. As with the previous two Balloon Manors, approximately 60 balloon artists from all over the world (including Puerto Rico, Israel and the UK) joined internationally-renowned Rochester "Airigamist" Larry Moss and hundreds of community volunteers to build this 10-room, 10,000 s/f, walk-through haunted house made entirely out of 100,000 balloons - in just six-and-a-half days!
This unique art form of "scairigami" is the brainchild of Moss, the creator of "airigami: the art of folding air in specially prepared latex containers" (www.airigami.com). Moss has held the Guinness World's Recordfor the largest non-round balloon sculpture since 2000 (Mol, Belgium), and delights in bringing communities together for his incredible art projects.
Proceeds from tours benefited the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center at Strong Memorial Hospital and Teens Living with Cancer - Rochester charities to which Balloon Manors have donated more than $60,000. This year, Rochester's Al Sigl Center and Children's Miracle Network (an official RE/MAX International charity which funds Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong) have been added as beneficiaries.
The Manor's new partnership with RE/MAX of New York,Inc. (based in Garden City) is a perfect fit: the world's first balloon haunted house meets the world's largest seller of real estate whose iconic logo is a hot air balloon! Not only will RE/MAX of New York, INC., Balloon Manor 2007 be listed for sale on www.remax-ny.com (last year's ended up oneBay), but Moss and his crew will build a flying balloon sculpture at the RE/MAX of New York, Inc.-sponsored Metro N.Y. Balloon & Music Festival (www.metronyballoonfest.com) on Long Island in August of 2008. California cluster-balloon pilot, John Ninomiya, who worked with Larry on the world's first piloted balloon sculpture (Fantastic Flying Octopus) in 2003, will once again pilot Moss' jaw-dropping work.
Moss built the first Balloon Manor for his then-hospitalized wife, Judy Mathers, as their wedding anniversary gift (the couple was married on Halloween). Then - as now - her mobility depended upon a wheelchair, and Balloon Manors are always handicapped-accessible. This year, in addition to disabled balloon builders, several groups of developmentally-disabled volunteers will take part. Tags: