Sun 'n Fun's campus is getting a new pavilion off James C Ray Drive
Where it is. On James C Ray Drive in Lakeland Linder.
A $1.77 million pavilion project is under way on the Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo grounds near Lakeland Linder, followed by a pavilion expansion later in 2026.
The Sun 'n Fun campus on city-owned land near Lakeland Linder International Airport is building out a new structure. In June 2026 the city issued a commercial remodel/alteration permit for the "ACE Pavilion Project" valued at $1,765,450, with Gard Construction Group as building contractor and a full roster of electrical, mechanical, and roofing subs. A follow-up electrical permit for a "Pavilion Expansion" worth $303,538 was issued in September 2026.
The same parcel hosts a steady stream of smaller work tied to the annual Aerospace Expo — temporary event tents, pyrotechnics for the airshow, shade sails, RV power pedestals, and an interior NOAA exhibit — plus fire-sprinkler work described as an "Air Space Museum." The land is owned by the City of Lakeland.
The records describe permit scope, valuations, and contractors, but do not spell out the pavilion's size, seating, or intended programming beyond the names on the permits.
Timeline
Receipts — verify every claim
These are the records this page is built from. None of them open directly right now — the agencies require a sign-in, offer only a search form, or publish the record inside a file to download.
ims.lakelandgov.net · City of Lakeland sign-in required BLD26-05294 — Pavilion Expansion (electrical)
ims.lakelandgov.net · City of Lakeland sign-in required LFD26-00115 — Fire sprinklers, Air Space Museum
ims.lakelandgov.net · City of Lakeland sign-in required BLD26-01907 — NOAA exhibit interior
ims.lakelandgov.net · City of Lakeland sign-in required