‘Hunger Games’ theme park proposal replaced by mixed-use development

Back in 2015, a bold developer with visions of creating a massive theme park in the Atlanta metro unveiled plans for “Avatron Smart Park.”

The sprawling development was proposed for a large piece of property along the Etowah River in Bartow County. As plans progressed, it was revealed the park would be themed to capitalize off the popular movie franchise The Hunger Games, which had filmed around Atlanta.

With construction supposedly imminent by November 2015, it seemed Six Flags Over Georgia was in for some serious competition.

Now, according to the Rome News-Tribune, there will be no theme park.

Instead, a massive mixed-use development could rise in its place. Atlanta-based Jacoby Development—the firm behind Atlantic Station and the Porsche facilities near Atlanta’s airport—hopes to develop the Villages at Red Top.

According to a promotional brochure, the 1,150-acre development would boast more than 2,000 residences across three distinctive neighborhoods. Additionally, a 100-room hotel and more than 550,000 square feet of office and retail space would be developed.

The entire development would be interconnected with trails, a golf course, and recreational facilities.

Jacoby

Located 40 miles from Atlanta, the development isn’t exactly close to the city. But the brochure touts the potential for a commuter rail line to be built linking the development with Kennesaw, Marietta, Cumberland, West Midtown, and downtown Atlanta. It’s unclear who would build such a line.

The plans are still very much conceptual at this point, and there’s no timeline for when the development would start construction.

But one thing’s for sure: Atlanta’s Hunger Games theme park idea is dead.

Avatron Smart Park

• Atlanta developer has new plans for former theme park site near Emerson [Rome News-Tribune]
• Villages at Red Top [Jacoby]
• ‘Hunger Games’ Theme Park Moves Toward Construction [Curbed Atlanta]