The Fantasy of Flight Museum, which has operated for 18 years in central Florida, will close on Sunday, April 6, owner Kermit Weeks announced on Tuesday. The venue will continue as a private-event business, and Weeks said he plans to design and develop "a new future destination attraction."  He also said he plans to open "an aspect of the collection in a reduced capacity and admission price" later this year, according to the news release. The facility will continue to provide aviation restoration and maintenance services.

Although we are located just 20 minutes west of Walt Disney World, we’re currently outside the center of mass tourism and not perceived of as a destination, said Weeks. "We have a great product, but people have a misperception of what we offer." Some of the current staff will lose their jobs, but an "event-focused staff" will be retained as the facility continues to host weddings, meetings and corporate events. “This isn’t the end of Fantasy of Flight," Weeks said. "It’s just the next step on the company’s journey to become what it was always meant to be." Weeks told the local Ledger that he turned 60 last year, "and the clock is ticking." The current business is "not sustainable," he said. He added that it's time to move on, and focus his energy and resources "toward a dream that will sustain."