Planned Tech Park Powers Down

A proposed Georgia amusement park that would use 3D video and 4D sensory technology, holograms and augmented reality has been scrapped before land was formally acquired. 

The news came in the form of an open letter to Bartow Country residents from David Garrett, CEO of Avatron USA Development, the company responsible for the planning and construction of Avatron Smart Park.

– Avatron Park Rendering
The technology-themed Avatron Smart Park, seen here in an artist rendering, died on the vine after the developers could not get enough funds to acquire the land.

“After some 24 months of extensive planning and project fundraising, and despite near completion of Phase 1 project components, the Avatron Park project is closing its doors,” Garrett wrote, according to the Daily Tribune. “With the anticipation of being just a few days away from a final finance completion announcement … one of our key partners had to suspend its participation. “While many would encourage us to look at this as simply a timing situation, we are of the shared belief that no more time can be given or pushed back. Therefore, the Avatron project is being placed on hold indefinitely.”

There were also plans to build hotels, a retail center and a 10,000-seat amphitheater in the area surrounding the park. The property in question spans hundreds of acres in Emerson, north of Atlanta. The park had an agreement with Lionsgate Productions to create rides inspired by the films “Hunger Games,” “Step Up” and “Now You See Me.”

The price tag for the project was estimated around $600 million and Garrett told the Emerson City Council he expected the park to create thousands of jobs and to attract tons of tourism.

The park was scheduled to open in January 2019. There were no incentives provided by the county government for the project, although there were infrastructure improvements made, which officials said still benefit the new Lakepoint Sporting Community & Town Center in Emerson.

“We were really excited about having such a great addition to our community. … But that’s the way these things work out sometimes,” Emerson Mayor Al Pallone said.