New Experience on the Las Vegas Strip

From the Las Vegas Sun: "The Las Vegas Strip got a new skyline attraction Thursday.
Cloud Nine, the world’s largest helium-filled, land-tethered balloon, opened for business after an opening ceremony for VIPs and the news media. Taking flight across from Mandalay Bay, the balloon can bring up to 30 guests nearly 500 feet above the Strip.
The balloon is seven stories wide and 11 stories tall and contains 210,000 cubic feet of helium. It’s tethered to the ground by a pulley system" http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/oct/09/balloon-ride-offers-view-500-feet-above-strip/
OK, you won't see the tops of the tallest buildings on the strip, but it will be intresting, especially at night and the cost is reasonable.
Further: "Prices run from $22.50 to $27.50 for adults, depending on the time of day, and flights typically last 10 to 12 minutes. Cloud Nine also runs family packages and is planning to introduce locals, military and teacher discounts in the coming weeks."
As a person who is not excited about heights (which is why I drive instead of fly), I might try this ride. I have never been in a hot air balloon and that experience would be wortth the price.
It's also nice to see a new business on the Strip. But this part bothers me: "Michaels said with development plans, getting the county’s approval and building the balloon, the process to get Cloud Nine’s balloon off the ground took more than two years."
Two years to get a project from start to finish is a long time, especially when they already had the money. Hopefully, projects can get off the ground (groan) faster than 2 years and begin to hire people.