FAYETTEVILLE, GA – The parking lot has been full of cars during the final days of operations at Fun Spot America Atlanta, a family-owned theme park in the suburb of Fayetteville.
The park itself wasn’t crowded during USA TODAY’s visit on July 30, but a steady stream of guests flowed through the front entrance, stopping only for security since there were no admission fees. Like its two sister parks in the Orlando area, the park roughly 20 miles south of Atlanta only charges guests for attractions.
Since the park’s closure was announced in late June, thrill seekers have come from far and wide to ride its world-class roller coaster, ArieForce One, for the first or last time.
If only this many people had consistently shown up sooner, perhaps the park would not be shuttering on Aug. 2, Fun Spot America Theme Parks Owner and CEO John Arie, Jr. told USA TODAY candidly. He spoke without bitterness, just a hint of sadness now and then.
The early days
The park first opened as Dixieland Fun Park in 1990, under previous owners. It was later renamed Fun Junction USA before changing ownership in 2017 and joining the Fun Spot family.
“I just saw the opportunity with all the land, thinking that this could be our flagship park. It’s right just south of Atlanta and over 100 acres of land,” Arie said of the decision to buy it. “We could do a lot here. We could build a water park, put in an RV park, have a dry park.” The water park and RV park never took root, but the park did grow.
The first big thing Fun Spot added was their signature elevated go-kart track. They also added smaller rides, more food options, shaded pavilions for groups and parties, and more indoor entertainment offerings, like an expanded arcade and simulated golf driving range.
“The numbers every year were growing just a little bit, and it was enough to continue growth,” Arie said. “And then COVID hits in 2020.”
Like much of the travel industry, theme parks came to a standstill during the pandemic, but Arie said his father, who founded the company, taught him that there is opportunity even amid hardship. “I said, ‘What is it that I really think this park could use?’ And I always dreamt about having an RMC roller coaster.”
Rocky Mountain Construction is a premier ride manufacturer, whose coasters and other attractions can be found at parks like Dollywood, Hersheypark, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and various Six Flags properties. The pandemic wound up being just the right time for them to create a coaster for Fun Spot.
A big swing
Arie said ArieForce One was supposed to open in 2021 or 2022, but they hit several hurdles that wound up costing time and an extra $6 million in expenses. “I had to put in storm drains. I had to put in a parking lot. I had to put in a septic system. It was one thing after another,” he said. “That hurt because we’re not a big park. When we make big investments like this – this was the biggest (single) investment we’ve ever made – we try to expedite it, get it out, get it open.”
The coaster finally opened to rave reviews in late March 2023. Billed as America’s largest zero-g stall coaster, which refers to a specific type of rotation and suspended inversion that makes riders feel weightless, ArieForce One is packed with back-to-back tricks and heart-pounding surprises, from its initial 146-foot, 83-degree drop all the way to its bunny hop finish.
“There are no straightaways without something happening,” Arie told USA TODAY on opening day. “You’re either turning left, you’re turning right. You’re going up, you’re going down. You’re going upside down, whatever it may be.”
The attraction received Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Award for Best New Attraction in 2023, one of the highest industry honors. And it’s been consistently ranked among the top roller coasters in the world, including in USA TODAY 10BEST’s Reader Choice Awards, where it’s been in the top 10 best coasters for three years running.
Coaster enthusiasts have lamented the ride’s closing, but it’s personal for Arie. Not only was ArieForce One his dream, but it’s named after his dad, John Arie, Sr., who’s also a pilot.
“This is a tribute to my dad and all he’s done for us throughout our lives and building the foundation for us,” Arie said when it opened.
Why is Fun Spot America Atlanta closing?
Tears welled in Arie’s eyes as he recalled the decision to close, which he described as the hardest decision he’s ever made.
He noted that when they’ve opened a big new attraction in Orlando, they typically see a 30% increase in attendance that lasts for several years, but there wasn’t enough lift from ArieForce One to sustain Atlanta-area operations.
“Thank God for the Central Florida parks and how well they’re doing because they were able to help fund this park,” he said. “For three years, I just kept staying hopeful and praying to God a lot and just asking Him to lead the path for me. And then finally this year, we got through our spring break, and I just said our numbers weren’t where they needed to be.”
Arie says location is partly to blame. Even though the park is just 12 miles south of the busiest airport in the world, it’s not central for tourists, whom theme parks depend on.
“It definitely wasn’t a lack of effort, and it definitely wasn’t a lack of investment. We did everything we could, and we built a really good team,” Arie said, calling his team members the park’s top asset. “They’re the ones that make the experience.”
Thanks for the memories
“I will always remember them. I will always be thankful for them,” Arie said of the employees, whom the company’s HR team has been helping with resumes, recommendations and, in some cases, job opportunities at Fun Spot’s Florida parks.
He’s also grateful to the many guests who’ve visited over the years.
“Thank you for being a part of it. Every single person that came in, whether it’s the first day or the last day,” he said, choking up again. “From my family to yours, we thank everybody that’s come to this Fayetteville location, and we hope that we’ve earned your business to visit us in Florida if you ever come down to Central Florida, and we’ll always do our best to have your family have the best experience on our properties.”
As Arie walked around the park with his wife, Tracy, multiple guests came up to shake his hand, ask for a selfie and personally thank him, as well. One guest said he came from Vancouver to ride ArieForce One – his second visit since the closing announcement.
What’s going to happen to ArieForce One?
Arie said he’s received lots of phone calls and emails from parties interested in ArieForce One.
“I can tell you that it does not fit at either one of our Central Florida parks,” he said. “The size of it is just too big, so it will not be staying within the Fun Spot family, unfortunately, but we hope to find a home for it. That’s my goal. I don’t want to see this incredible masterpiece get torn down.”
He’s confident that the coaster will find a new home, but wants to get through the Aug. 2 closure before making any decisions.
In the days to come, leadership will take inventory of what else they want to relocate.
“I’m planning on running an auction for all the other assets in the parks that we’re not taking back to Central Florida. And that’ll probably happen after Labor Day,” Arie said.
Once that’s all taken away, he plans to list the Fayetteville real estate.
While it may be goodbye to Georgia for now, Arie said, “It’s more like, we’ll see you in Florida.”