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Steamboat Springs — One of Steamboat's more popular events has found a new home at Bald Eagle Lake.

The 27th annual Balloon Rodeo will be held July 7 and 8 at a field by the private lake south of Steamboat Springs on the south side of U.S. Highway 40. The lake, also known as Water Ski Lake, is a little less than one mile south of the U.S. 40-Walton Creek Road intersection.

The early morning event features about 40 hot air balloons flying above the Yampa Valley. Admission is free.

The Balloon Rodeo is followed by Art in the Park, which is held at Lincoln Park just west of downtown along Lincoln Avenue.

In recent years, the Balloon Rodeo was held in the field next to the Meadows parking lot along Mount Werner Road. The event had to be moved because of construction at the Wildhorse Meadows development.

The move from the Wildhorse Meadows land was supposed to take place before last year's Balloon Rodeo, and officials had planned to hold it on a rural parcel of land near Lake Catamount. Wildhorse Meadows developers eventually allowed the rodeo to stay put because work on the development didn't begin until later in the summer.

Details on how spectators will get to the Balloon Rodeo still are being worked out, said Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association spokeswoman Riley Polumbus. Parking is not available at the lake, so spectators likely will be asked to park for free at the Meadows lot and ride a shuttle to Bald Eagle. Polumbus said officials also are encouraging event-goers to walk or ride their bikes.

"We are very excited to find a location in the middle of our beautiful Yampa Valley," said Sandy Evans Hall, executive vice president of the Chamber. "Visitors and local residents alike will experience the natural beauty of the valley and its surrounding mountains - a perfect backdrop to what is already a picturesque event."

The Balloon Rodeo is a Chamber-organized event that brings many tourists to town, Polumbus said.

"It's definitely the most asked-about event," Polumbus said. "This one continues to be a huge draw."

Evans Hall said the move to Bald Eagle Lake helps guarantee the Balloon Rodeo will stay in Steamboat.

- To reach Matt Stensland, call 871-4210

or e-mail mstensland@steamboatpilot.com