If you’ve ever looked up while cruising through the Lower Keys and spotted a giant white blimp just hanging in the sky, you’ve seen one of the quirkiest and most iconic parts of Keys life: Fat Albert.
This massive balloon has been floating above Lower Sugarloaf Key for decades — and while she looks peaceful, she’s got a serious job.
🕵️ What Is Fat Albert?
Fat Albert is part of a Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) — a high-altitude surveillance balloon operated by the U.S. Air Force, in partnership with Customs and Border Protection.
While she may look like a weather balloon, her main mission is to detect low-flying aircraft that could be involved in illegal activity coming up from the Caribbean and Gulf. Her radar reach spans hundreds of miles, quietly keeping an eye on the southern skies.
📍Where Is She Based?
Fat Albert is based at the end of Blimp Road on Lower Sugarloaf Key, just off U.S. 1 around mile marker 19. The site is off-limits to the public, but you can spot the balloon from all over the Lower Keys — especially if you’re out on the water.
She’s not actually on Cudjoe Key (a common myth) — Sugarloaf gets the credit for hosting this high-flying sentinel.
🌬️ Is She Still Up?
Despite rumors back in 2022 about decommissioning, Fat Albert is still flying as of 2025. She’s periodically reeled in for maintenance or bad weather, which is why locals sometimes think she’s gone. But on clear days, she’s up there doing her thing — and keeping a watchful eye on the skies.
😲 Locals Know…
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If Fat Albert is up, it’s usually a calm, clear day.
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If she’s down, weather’s coming — or something’s being checked out.
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And if you’ve lived in the Keys long enough, spotting her just feels like home.
🌴 Spot Her from the Sandbar
Here’s a little-known local tip: you can see Fat Albert from Snipes Point on a clear day.
So while you’re waist-deep in warm turquoise water, floating with a cold drink and a pool noodle, you might just catch a glimpse of her off in the distance — a quiet reminder that the Keys are full of history, mystery, and a little bit of government hardware overhead.
⚓ Wanna See Fat Albert from the Best Seat in the House?
Join us for a private sandbar charter and see the Lower Keys the way they’re meant to be seen — from the water.
Cruise out to Snipes Point, soak up the sun, sip something cold, and keep an eye out for the iconic white blimp floating in the distance. She’s been watching the Keys for years… now it’s your turn to watch her.
📅 Book your sandbar charter now »
☀️ Departing daily from Key West