KISSIMMEE, Fla. — There are more than a dozen skydiving facilities in Florida, including several right here in Central Florida.
That connection with the sport is why Central Florida was chosen as the home for the new Skydiving Museum and Hall of Fame.
“We want to bring the excitement and the engagement and the passion that we have for skydiving to the non-skydiving world,” said Jim McCormick, director of development for the International Skydiving Museum and Hall of Fame.
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On April 25, several legends of the skies were in attendance as they revealed to the world the museum will be built in Kissimmee.
Curt Curtis is the CEO of the museum and a former college hockey player and Marine. He said the exhibits will be divided by era, showcasing wing walkers, barnstormers and others who made the sport what it is today.
“I can tell you that the adrenaline when you’re coming to the door to go out on a competition jump is no different than stepping onto the ice for your first shift in a big rival game, in a playoff game,” Curtis said.
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The museum will also have the first horizontal wingsuit tunnel in the United States. Officials estimate more than 100,000 people will come from all over the world every year to experience the thrill from the ground.
“We’re not building a museum in the conventional model,” McCormick said. “What we’re building is something that can be very modern, very engaging, and interactive and immersive that’s going to use extensive amounts of virtual reality in order to bring the experience to people.”
McCormick said the United States has more skydiving activity than any other country, and Florida has more than any other state, making it the right location for the museum.
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Museum leaders hope to break ground next year and will continue to raise money. A $100,000 donation from Complete Parachute in DeLand helped.
Click here to donate.
Cox Media Group
