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Colonial Williamsburg talks expansion, changes before spring season

It's a brand new year and a brand new season for Colonial Williamsburg. Leaders hope changes they've implemented within the last several months allow them to remain Virginia's top tourism attraction.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WVEC) -- The goal is to stay on top.

Leaders at Colonial Williamsburg hope changes they've implemented within the last several months allow them to remain Virginia’s top tourism attraction.

The Foundation’s spring season officially kicks off Friday.

Foundation leaders say tourists are going to see several new changes this year, including an expansion of the art museums.

It’s a $41.7 million, donor-funded project, all to give visitors a new entrance to the museums, instead of walking in through the old hospital.

The new season kicks off as Colonial Williamsburg is working to get back on track financially.

Colonial Williamsburg President and CEO Mitchell B. Reiss said in an open letter in 2017 that the foundation had suffered $54 million in operating losses in 2016 alone, and a total of $277 million in the last five years.

Colonial Williamsburg spokesperson Joe Straw sent 13News Now several statements that read:

Given the changes we’ve implemented, in particular our reorganization of last June, Colonial Williamsburg is on the right track toward financial sustainability. We already see substantial savings and cash-flow benefits and we are investing to drive revenue, guest satisfaction and operational efficiencies.

This year guests will see diverse new character interpreters, and new programming including new ghost walks and carriage rides, and even a summer camp that builds on hugely successful daily ticketed children’s programming launched last year.

Late last year The Williamsburg Inn earned AAA’s coveted 5-diamond rating. This year the Inn was named a 5-star hotel by Forbes Travel. And in January readers of USA Today voted Colonial Williamsburg Virginia’s top tourism attraction.

Colonial Williamsburg now has an interactive app. It's easy to find everything needed to make the most of the historic destination.

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