About Kite Stop

Meet the Owner of Kite Stop

Hi, I’m John Lutter.

I’ve been involved in kiting for more than two decades, flying everywhere from theme parks to beaches to major festivals around the world. I’ve had the privilege of performing at SeaWorld, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and at international events in Dieppe, Berck-sur-Mer, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. No matter where I travel, getting a kite in the sky still brings me the same joy it did on day one.

Along the way, I’ve also dedicated myself to supporting the kite world beyond performing and retail. I’ve served as Past President of the American Kitefliers Association and currently serve as the organization’s First Vice President. Giving back to the community that shaped me has always been important, and those roles have given me the chance to help grow the sport and support new flyers.

Today, much of my professional life is focused on Kiteman Group, the company I co-own with Brian Keating. We produce large-scale kite shows, create custom designs, and develop themed entertainment for parks, festivals, museums, and major events. Kiteman Group handles the big productions, while Kite Stop is where my passion for collecting, preserving, and sharing the history of kiting lives on.

The History of Kite Stop

Kite Stop began in 2001 as a small web project that combined my background in internet development with my love of kiteflying. It started as an online magazine where I wrote about events and festival adventures, and by 2002 it grew into an online store offering kites, yo-yos, windsocks, and flying toys. For many years, Kite Stop shipped products all over the world and became a familiar name in the kite community.

Kite Stop has returned in a new form: a curated online shop for classic, vintage, and new old stock kites. Over the years I’ve gathered and been entrusted with kites from families, flyers, and estates, and this store is a way to give those kites new homes. Whether you’re a collector, a casual flyer, or someone reconnecting with a childhood memory, my goal is to offer unique pieces you simply won’t find anywhere else.

And as always, this is a family effort. My crew has supported me at events for as long as I can remember, and my son Alex has grown up right alongside Kite Stop. He’s still part of the journey today.

Thanks for being here and for supporting this next chapter. I hope you find something that inspires you to get outside and fly.