ATLANTA — A new $750 milllion interactive theme park is coming to metro Atlanta, and the park’s CEO spoke exclusively on Tuesday to Channel 2 Action News.
“This is going to be a first-of-a-kind park,” Avatron Park CEO Dave Garrett said. “It’s going to be totally interactive, immersive. It’s technology and entertainment. Those are the two critical words that we have to answer correctly each time we look at something.”
Avatron announced that it inked a deal with Lions Gate Pictures, so part of the park will feature three of its best-known movie franchises, including the blockbuster “The Hunger Games.” Part of the park will feature attractions based on that movie.
“'The Hunger Games' has an enormous following, and anyone that doesn’t believe it, just put it in Google,” Garrett said.
The park will not have traditional rides like roller coasters. Instead, it will use high-tech, 21st century technology to create virtual environments. According to Garrett, it will be like each guest will be the star of his or her own movie or video game.
Garrett is no stranger to big projects. He was the founding chairman of the Georgia Lottery.
Avatron did not ask for any special tax abatements in exchange for locating in Bartow. Instead, Garrett said they insisted on paying both property and school taxes. Many business seeking to locate in Georgia ask for abatements.
“We’re building a family park,” Garrett said. “What kind of message does it send to say we’re coming here, but we don’t want to pay to educate the children in the community we selected? That doesn’t work. That’s against our core values."