The Failed Fantasy of Atlanta’s Sid and Marty Krofft Theme Park

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.

Updated (April 13, 2026): Sid Krofft, 96, died in April 2026. May his creative influence inspire for years to come.