The Failed Fantasy of Atlanta’s Krofft Theme Park

This article is a continuation of the history of The World of Sid and Marty Krofft. READ PART I or READ PART II

The Aftermath of The World of Sid and Marty Krofft

Reception

The World of Sid and Marty Krofft opened with optimism. The “high-rise world of fantasy” earned positive reviews from newspaper columnists, as a local businessman went as far to call it downtown Atlanta’s “first ray of sunlight.” Atlanta’s mayor called it the city’s greatest premiere since Gone with the Wind.

The park even caught the attention of presumptive presidential nominee Jimmy Carter, who visited the park that summer with his family; for what it’s worth, Secret Service seemed to enjoy themselves.

Sid and Marty were encouraged by the positive reactions. The fulfillment of creating a theme park wonderland pushed the Kroffts to revisit their ambition of expanding to other cities; the duo was negotiating with New York’s Radio City Music Hall and another Omni location in Miami, Florida, but their work in Atlanta wasn’t done yet.

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Attendance

The Kroffts’ indoor theme park had to be seen to be believed, but only a limited number of visitors could actually visit.

The World of Sid and Marty Krofft restricted its capacity to 6,000 visitors at a time to prevent overcrowding the indoor venue. As a self-confident way to manage attendance, the park used a reservation system similar to Broadway. The park reserved 75% of its capacity for those with advance bookings, leaving 25% for walk-up visitors. Reservations, which included guaranteed parking, could be purchased at Rich’s department stores.

Atlanta’s newest theme park anticipated 1.3 million visitors in first year, needing about 1 million to break even. The park reported some sold-out dates in The Atlanta Journal, but busy days were few and far between.

Overall attendance for The World of Sid and Marty Krofft was lighter than expected.

Value

Public opinion about the new Krofft park was that admission prices were too high. Ticket books were $5.75 for adults and $4.25 for children—roughly $30 today when adjusted for inflation. For compassion, the nearby Six Flags Over Georgia was slightly cheaper at $5.00 for adults and $3.50 for kids. That price difference mattered to families, especially with a number of kids.

Not only was The World of Sid and Marty Krofft more expensive than Six Flags, but the indoor theme park had only three rides and used a ticket book system; that meant visitors paid in full and could experience each attraction only once. The World’s multi-floor layout funneled guests to experience everything in a certain order. This format made it difficult to repeat attractions or entire areas.

A trip to The World of Sid and Marty Krofft took about three to five hours. The cheaper Six Flags was a better value as an all-day park with considerably more attractions, ranging from gentle to thrilling, which allowed visitors to ride multiple times.

Visitors atThe World of Sid and Marty Krofft were expecting a full day of fun; instead, they experienced three rides at most and a few well-produced shows. Many kids were left waiting in the Omni’s concourse for their parents to pick them up after breezing through the park.

The World of Sid and Marty Krofft arguably was a quality-over-quantity experience, but even that wasn’t entirely true.

Issues

As any new park, The World of Sid and Marty Krofft went through growing pains.

The park’s three rides were frequently broken down. Management handed out rain checks after the prominent H.R. Pufnstuf ride was closed for two weekends in a row during the peak summer season. In one incident, the puppeteers from the park’s theater show got stuck in the elevator for Living Island Adventure. After that, management no longer allowed the puppeteers to ride the park’s unreliable attractions as to not miss any shows.

To make up for ride closures, the trusty puppet show ran as many as 15 exhaustive times per day.

These technical difficulties were “disastrous” according to an executive at Omni International.

Even when the rides were open, some thrill-seeking visitors were unimpressed. The pinball ride, for example, was a spectacular idea on paper that, in execution, a number of guests criticized for being slow and jolty with ear-splitting sound effects to cover up the noisy ride system.

The park adjusted its messaging to set expectations, describing their attractions as “sight-seeing rides” in some news releases.

By this point, The World of Sid and Marty Krofft clearly wasn’t the perfect world of fantasy it was designed to be. Some of the park’s issues could be blamed on its rushed opening, but the Kroffts still believed in their creation. The brothers felt at home in Atlanta and were motivated to do what was necessary to get the most out of their world.

Fixing The World of Sid and Marty Krofft

Refurbishment

The World of Sid and Marty Krofft went under refurbishment four months after its opening. Brand-new attractions oftentimes need fine tuning to operate as intended, so the World’s early refurbishment was a sign of dedication, not a last-ditch effort. The Kroffts and crew put in the work to tweak the young theme park.

“You can’t stop Sid and Marty Krofft. [Our park will] never be finished.”
Marty Krofft, WSB-TV, 1976

The refurbishment included refining the park’s theming and attractions, but a lot of effort went into practical improvements.

For instance, the indoor venue’s other tenants—such as offices, a hotel, and restaurants—complained about the loud theme park. The attraction and crowd noise echoed in the Omni’s large atrium, disturbing office employees, hotel guests, and restaurant patrons. Park management consulted with two acoustical engineering firms to dampen the volume. The solution was to fully enclose the park’s dark rides and hang nearly 300 sound-absorbing cubes around the Omni’s 14-story atrium.

The acoustic treatment reduced the volume by 60% but cost a lofty $350,000. At any rate, the major investments would be worth it in the long run if attendance picked up.

Marketing

Without a headlining roller coaster to advertise, the Kroffts had to get creative marketing their struggling theme park.

The park occasionally offered simple discounts, school field trip packages, corporate events, and free admission with a stay at the neighboring Omni International Hotel. They wanted to be on everyone’s radar—from Atlanta locals to passersby on their way to Florida.

In June, the Kroffts landed a five-year marketing partnership with Delta Air Lines. The park’s massive escalator was rebranded as the “flight to fantasy” by Delta Air Lines, and Delta flight attendants mentioned the park when flying over the Omni.

Also in June, CBS aired a half-hour prime-time special promoting The World of Sid and Marty Krofft. As a note, this footage could not be used for this video.

The Kroffts knew their World had potential and stopped at nothing to make it a success; that meant using the venue for productions too. In the summer, they filmed segments for the first season of The Krofft Supershow around the theme park and the Omni—similar to how the intro of Lidsville was filmed at a Six Flags park.

In early September, the park made another marketing push by hosting Harlem Globetrotters games over the Omni’s ice skating rink.

The World of Sid and Marty Krofft also had festivities for holidays—like Halloween when fans could meet Witchiepoo from H.R. Pufnstuf.

Operating at a Loss

After months of operation and a refresh, The World of Sid and Marty Krofft was finally running smoothly. However, it still had a few issues it could not recover from.

The park was distinctly Krofft, but it was also distinctly Atlanta. Some families were cautious of visiting downtown, which the Kroffts were assured would be addressed.

“People were frightened to go downtown.”
Sid Krofft, Television Academy, 2000

Atlanta was not the only problem, however. The Omni was not the best setting for a theme park.

Essentially, the theme park was built across a multi-floor venue that was originally earmarked for an international trade pavilion. Shoehorning a theme park in that space with restrictive guest flow was not ideal from a design aspect; the commercial building, its tile floors, and its exposed ceilings diluted the whimsy.

It was originally supposed to be a kiddie park but inflated into a larger and pricier project by request. The theme park was at a disadvantage before it even opened.

Simply put, The World of Sid and Marty Krofft was not set up for success.

“I think we over-designed it.”
Marty Krofft, Television Academy, 2000

As the tenant of that prime location, the Krofft theme park was pressured to instantly turn a profit. The Kroffts, however, had their sights on the long-term. The World of Sid and Marty Krofft was not supposed to be a quick buck.

“All our careers, we’ve been trying to warm up the world again. That’s our goal; it isn’t money.”
Sid Krofft, WSB-TV, 1976

No matter the intent, the theme park struggled out of the gate.

It was costly to operate and maintain. The ambitious ride systems “needed a space-age engineer to keep them running,” as one anonymous source told The Miami News.

Additionally, the park was not generating money. Its reputation of being too expensive affected ticket sales. With a low turnout, visitors didn’t have a need to spend all day in the park, which could affect food and merchandise sales. Many who did visit did not feel the need to make a second trip.

The indoor family theme park was built to operate year-round, but attendance dropped when schools were back in session. By September and October of 1976, business fell as much as 50% below expectations.

Considering its high expenses and low ticket sales, the theme parkoperated at a $1.5 million loss in under six months. The World of Sid and Marty Krofft was facing a serious threat of shutting down before the end of its inaugural year despite publications advertising operating hours for 1977.

Closure

The refurbishments and marketing pushes were not enough. The Krofft world was not catching on, and time was running out. The park’s financial lenders refused to fund it any further.

The World of Sid and Marty Krofft was forced to shut down in the fall; the year-round park didn’t make it to winter.A world that once had so much promise and a high-profile premiere just a few months earlier was already defunct.

Its final day of operation was Nov. 7, 1976. In its five months and change of operation, the park entertained only about 300,000 visitors—much less than expected.

Park employees got little to no warning about the closure; some found out from the news. Business Week called it “one of the worst real estate disasters in history,” but the Kroffts thought it just needed more time to gain traction.

“We didn’t have the opportunity to prove the thing out. We never will know whether it would have succeeded.”
Marty Krofft, The Atlanta Constitution, 1976

Sid and Marty were working on a second park in Miami with the same developers, but that was canceled after what happened in Atlanta.

Those involved and fans were disappointed in the park’s sudden closure and missed potential.

“What a horrible shame the very young of Atlanta…will not have the opportunity as I have to walk through ‘The World’ with wonderment and soft tears of joy streaming down my face.”
Michael B. Disney, The Atlanta Journal, 1976

Plans to Reopen

The property owners of the Omni megacomplex weren’t ready to fully write off the theme park as a source of revenue. They recognized the park’s glimpses of success and thought it could thrive under a “substantially” different format, according to The Atlanta Journal.

“We don’t intend to leave that space vacant.”
Maurice Alpert, The Atlanta Constitution, 1976

The Omni aspired to reopen the former Krofft theme park within a month. Although, the park needed significant revisions.

As the park lay dormant, plans were in motion to build more rides, possibly revamp areas with a Journey to the Center of the Earth theme, reduce ticket prices to as low as 50 cents, and find new investors as well as—the biggest change—new management.

Sid and Marty were no longer involved, and the Omni planned to strip away any Krofft branding and characters.

Omni executives no longer trusted Krofft Productions, Inc. to operate the park.

Lawsuits

In late 1976, the situation escalated. Omni International and its Atlanta-based developer, International City Corp., opened a $20 million lawsuit against Krofft Productions, Inc. Omni executives alleged the Kroffts failed to uphold their contract agreements and falsely claimed to be “qualified and capable” of managing the park.

According to the lawsuit, the Kroffts allegedly underestimated the park’s cost, which exceeded the original financial agreement. Furthermore, the Kroffts were allegedly unwilling to pay for expenses caused by poor quality, design, and workmanship around the theme park.

In response, the Kroffts alleged Omni executives wrongfully took control of the theme park venue.

Reopening the theme park without the Kroffts was a violation of the agreement, so the brothers were given an opportunity to present a reopening proposal.

One Final Chance

Sid and Marty did not give up. They were in talks with three potential investors to revitalize their theme park. In a proposal to Omni officials, the reimagined World of Sid and Marty Krofft would have new attractions along with refreshed live entertainment. With the new attractions, the Kroffts proposed an updated pay-per-ride ticket system to lower prices.

The new World of Sid and Marty Krofft would take some time to reopen, but the updates would be worth the wait.

“I’ve got three and a half years of my life and my company’s life tied to this thing. We believed in this from day one, and we believed in the betterment of downtown Atlanta.”
Marty Krofft, The Atlanta Journal, 1977

To persuade Omni officials, Marty insisted using the Krofft brand would be the park’s best shot at success. However, Omni officials were ready to move on. The Kroffts’ elaborate plan did not align with the Omni’s timeline and financial goals.

The Omni hoped to improve attendance by appealing to the average visitor as they sought new management. The Omni’s idea for the park was to reduce expensive live entertainment and increase the park’s ride lineup with a more affordable and flexible pay-per-ride system. Additions like mechanical games and regularly updated attractions could encourage repeat visitors. They were planning a phased reopening to make the best use of the space right away.

The two sides disagreed. In a meeting, the Kroffts and Omni officials debated for four hours with little compromise.

Ultimately, the Omni told the Kroffts “no.”

With that, the Omni moved forward reopening a portion of the park without its original creators. Omni officials believed opening sooner rather than later under a new direction was the best decision for the attraction.

With each passing day the park was closed, the Omni was missing out on potential revenue. Reopening was urgent. The 1970s was a tough decade for developers; Atlanta’s megacomplex was facing financial constraints and a possible foreclosure.

“[They] are trying to pull a fast one.”
Marty Krofft, The Atlanta Journal, 1977

The Kroffts intended to stop the park from reopening without them, but the Omni had the right to seek new park management. Krofft Productions, Inc. was under a management contract; they did not own the theme park.

The Kroffts were bothered by the decision and sued the Omni’s developers for $20 million. The brothers alleged the situation damaged their reputation and restricted their commitment to other gigs. The lawsuit blocked the Omni from reopening the park, but a judge allowed it anyway.

The Kroffts were out of the picture. The World of Sid and Marty Krofft was a thing of the past.

“The park was the eighth wonder of the world, but we were at the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people.”
Marty Krofft, Television Academy, 2000

Omni Fair

On Friday, Feb. 4, 1977, the theme park formerly known as The World of Sid and Marty Krofft reopened as Omni Fair.

As a part of the rebranded park’s phased reopening, only the top floor was open for business. This was the former Fantasy Fair area of the Krofft theme park. It did not have any rides, but it did have new pinball machines.

Omni Fair was set to open all its floors in summer 1977, but that was delayed until at least September. Its eventual full reopening would feature the carousel and pinball rides from the previous Krofft park. Omni Fair had plans to remodel as well, making additions such as an event space for school fairs and international exhibits, a wax museum, a craft section, and some live entertainment. Omni Fair’s full debut was once again delayed another few months until December at the earliest.

Unfortunately, the park never reopened entirely. Omni Fair ran into financial issues and shuttered soon after.

Abandonment

The venue was left abandoned despite the Omni’s attempts to monetize the space. Briefly, a musical theater group used the park’s refurbished Krofft puppet theater. Other than that, the theme park sat mostly abandoned.

“The difference between doing a park that doesn’t work and a movie that doesn’t work is that the movie goes away.”
Sid Krofft, The Atlanta Constitution, 1980

What was once a wonderland for kids and families was now a “ghost town” several years after its closure. In 1980, photographer Jerry Burns was allowed to tour the defunct theme park. Its neglected midways, decorations, and sets were mostly covered up by tarps, but Burns took home a souvenir from his theme park trip: a 300-pound clown head from the first floor’s big top.

After some time, the courts allowed investors to salvage the park’s remaining assets. Decorations and attractions were disassembled and removed—either to be scrapped or sold. The World of Sid and Marty Krofft was almost entirely stripped away.

CNN Moves In

Through the ‘80s, the Omni needed more tenants; only about half of its retail space a third of its commercial space were occupied. More importantly, the large theme park space was still unused. It was abandoned for longer than it was occupied.

Tom Cousins of the Omni was in touch with a potential lead: Ted Turner. His news network, CNN, was outgrowing its current location.

In 1987, CNN’s headquarters moved into the former multi-floor site of the defunct World of Sid and Marty Krofft. The floor that once was a human pinball amusement ride was now a studio for an international news station.

CNN revitalized the Omni megacomplex, which would be better known as the CNN Center. The main concourse was thriving with dining and retail options, which were especially popular when the sports arena next door had an event going on.

Krofft Remnants

For decades, the CNN Center and its studio tours became one of metro Atlanta’s signifying tourist attractions. The tour included a ride up the Kroffts’ famous 205-foot escalator. Instead of two giant jester statues at the top, the escalator now led into a large globe.

Those who worked at the CNN Center heard urban legends about lingering theme park remnants—such as hidden Krofft decorations in storage rooms. During a remodel around the turn of the millennium, rumors suggested workers found a mural of old English cottages behind a wall they tore down.

A model of the Krofft park was allegedly still on site and could make an appearance in future tours. Unfortunately, it would never be seen by the public.

Vacant Once Again

After decades of broadcasting from the Omni, CNN moved out of the megacomplex in early 2023. As of 2025, the former site of The World of Sid and Marty Krofft is vacant once again. The multi-floor venue has been left behind with an uncertain future. For now, its record-breaking escalator stands motionless as each deck collects dust instead of memories.

Legacy

The World of Sid and Marty Krofft is an anomaly in theme park history. The park was almost too imaginative for its own good, but it had a strong legacy despite its shortcomings. It was one of the many passion projects the Krofft brothers shared with the world. That level of impact is what earned them lifetime achievement awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a special place in the hearts of countless fans.

The World of Sid and Marty Krofft was a special place. Photos and footage of the park are hard to come by since it was open for an extremely short window back when consumer-grade cameras were not as common. But, there’s no shortage of memories from the 300,000 lucky people who got to visit.

What The World of Sid and Marty Krofft lacked in rides, it made up for in glamour. The Kroffts created something special that is remembered to this day; Sid himself has called it an “honor.”

Just to show how popular the park still is—its old souvenirs are highly sought after and go for a premium on the secondhand market.

It was a special park that had a talented roster of employees who went on to have successful careers in show business. It has a spot in Atlanta’s history, as a shuttered version of the park earned a cameo in Netflix’s Mindhunter.

Since the Kroffts were optimistic about opening other locations, who knows what could have happened if the Atlanta theme park caught on.

One thing is for sure: There will only ever be one World of Sid and Marty Krofft.

“If it would have worked, there’d probably be 20 of them around the country—but we gave it a great shot.”
Marty Krofft, Television Academy, 2000

Marty Krofft died in November 2023. As of March 2025, Sid Krofft is as passionate as ever about what he and his brother created.