PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. — Exploration Tower is usually one of the first things people see as they approach Port Canaveral.

They can see it, but they can't go inside, because the building, which opened in 2013, has been closed to the public for four years.

But there’s a plan to reopen the building, which amounts to a transformation of the landmark that symbolizes the space and maritime frontiers and an idea put up by a local foundation.

Every day, Stephen Collins rides his bike in the Cape Canaveral area. In fact, he bikes some 100 miles a week.

His route takes him through Cape Canaveral neighborhoods, Jetty Park and down to the locks.

“I’m a very talkative person, so I do stop and chat with people to get me off this seat for a while,” Collins said.

Collins also regularly takes a spin past the seven-story Exploration Tower landmark.

“People pull in, tourists, and there’s like nothing going on,” he said.

But that might change, as the U.S. Space Force Historical Foundation has a vision to transform the tower.

“Unfortunately, it opened two years after the space shuttle shut down, and now the space industry is back in such a huge way, and we are seeing almost daily rocket launches, and what we see in the next year or two just is going to be amazing,” said Jim Thomas, with the U.S. Space Force Historical Foundation

The foundation has confirmed plans for a retail area and coffee cafe on the first floor. The second floor will host events and exhibits, and the third floor will have a theater.

Additionally, a space-themed lounge is planned for the fourth floor. The fifth and sixth floors have room for more events, and the seventh floor is a large observation deck.

“Being able to host rocket launch viewing parties, have it open for the industry, but then it will be able to inspire the next generation,” Thomas said.

There will also be tours of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and sites like historic Pad 26, where the Explorer-1 launched, and the Apollo 1 tribute. On those tours will also be a stop at the Sands Space History Center.

Foundation leaders say the model for Exploration Tower's transformation is the newly renovated Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

That campaign raised $275,000,000, and the facility now sees 19,000 visitors a day.

Collins said he likes the concept, and hopes his ride takes him by a crowded tower once again.

“It’s a tourist attraction, let’s utilize it,” he said.

U.S. Space Force Historical Foundation officials say they are in the early stages of talks with Port Canaveral to lease the tower.