If you visited Atlanta over the last couple of decades that trip may have included a stop at the former CNN Center integrated into the Omni Hotel. This is especially true if you were visiting the neighboring Georgia World Congress Center, the Georgia Dome, Mercedes Benz Stadium Philips Arena (now State Farm) or Centennial Olympic Park. The food court at the base of the atrium was massive with tons of choices for those looking for a quick meal, but there was also a CNN Tour. However, this space 50 years ago in 1976 housed an indoor amusement park called The World of Sid and Marty Krofft.

The Krofft Brothers, Sid and Marty, were a Canadian born artists who worked as television creators, writers and puppeteers who made children’s television and variety show programs. The World of Syd and Marty Krofft was a theme park based on their television shows and characters. The park is often referred to as an amusement park, but it probably is best referred to as a theme park as it did have a strong IP component.

The park was unique in that visitors entered through riding the longest freestanding escalator in the world. This was actually the same way people would enter the CNN Tour for the decades it operated. Upon arriving guests were greeted by costumed performers with acts such as a slackrope walker, street dancers and even a purple belly-dancing rhino scattered throughout the experience with great theming and Krofft characters. There were also 2 main rides, a carousel with crystalline mythological creatures and a large pinball machine themed dark ride. The dark ride was the really unique attraction as riders sat inside a large ball-shaped pod and bounced off flippers and bumpers as if traversing a giant pinball machine.

Although it’s best known as the CNN Center, the news network didn’t move in until 1987. The space opened in 1972 and was known as the Omni International Complex. The amusement park opened 4 years later on May 26, 1976, but was short lived, closing after just 6 months on November 10, 1976. The park blamed the “urban decay” with people concerned about safety issues in downtown while others blamed the high price for a limited experience, especially with the larger Six Flags Over Georgia nearby. Ironically the Krofft Brothers actually worked with Six Flags Over Georgia on many shows and attractions including the Tales of the Okefenokee attraction that is today Monster Mansion.

This park was perhaps far ahead of its time as it’s quite common now to find small amusement park experiences at Family Entertainment Centers, zoos, shopping centers and other public spaces. The TV commercial above also plays up the indoor comfort year round aspect the park offered which would differentiate it from the outdoor parks like Six Flags. You can even find pizza places with indoor roller coasters these days.

Today in early 2026 the atrium is closed as the area is being remodeled and rebranded yet again into “The Center” with a target of having it ready for the 2026 World Cup soccer event being held at Mercedes Benz stadium. It is being branded as a “new entertainment and workplace destination to connect, create, be social, and do it all” with a large focus on film given its former use as a studios for CNN. However, to your average visitor the most visible aspect will be the atrium.

No doubt for those few weeks the atrium will be buzzing with activity that will repeat in the coming years when other sporting events, concerts or trade shows are held nearby. However, what the long term future holds for this space (especially when no events are being held) is far from certain. This area of Atlanta has seen tremendous revitalization and construction over the last decade and could potentially see year-round success like “The Battery Atlanta” area neighboring Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, has seen. The next time you’re in downtown Atlanta and visit The Center, look up to the top level of the atrium and remember 50 years ago this year it housed a unique indoor theme park called The World of Sid and Marty Krofft.