Bartow has heard plans for other parks (Mythfaire, Six Flags) but that was before LakePoint. Why Avatron should be different

 

A month ago, some pretty impressive numbers were projected for Emerson and surrounding communities. By summer’s end, as many as 1 million visitors are expected to take part in some of the baseball action at Perfect Game South, based at LakePoint Sporting Community and Town Center. Those numbers came from Taylor McCollough, vice president of Tournaments for Perfect Game.

That’s not counting what Rally Volleyball or Terminus Wake Park plan for the 2015 season. In fact, it doesn’t include all the baseball being played at LakePoint this year. Weekend games already are under way as are high school and college contests.

Still in its formative years, the opening phase of LakePoint is a grand slam and that early success is being watched by others whose plans could turn the southern acres of Bartow County into a mini Disney World.

Add to that list the folks behind Avatron USA Development LLC, which plans to build a massive, high-tech theme park in Emerson, according to a development of regional impact statement filed with the state. Check Tuesday’s story (below) for some of the Avatron highlights.

The Avatron site is not adjacent to LakePoint; it is west of U.S. 41. But that’s an easy commute for the parents, players and siblings crowding LakePoint many months of the year. We’ve already heard of retail spots planned for LakePoint as well as some smaller theme park-like attractions. Bass Pro will bring a 100,000-square-foot store and accompanying wild area, by 2016. Avatron is expected to open two years later.

But the question is whether Avatron is viable, even with LakePoint drawing 10 times the Bartow County population each year. So far, there are good signs. The project is led by David Garrett, an entrepreneur and son of the famed Delta executive. The younger Garrett has an impressive resume, including working to help pass and then guide Georgia’s Lottery games. He’s served on many of the right boards and has the contacts to make things happen.

Garrett and his team met with Bartow officials a month ago to unveil the idea. Local leaders, in turn, liked what they heard: A successful leader. Apparently some early capital behind the project. A viable location.

So why be cautious?

Because they heard it before — first near the Anheuser-Busch brewery property being whispered as a new Six Flags as well as a somewhat smaller concept, Mythfaire, offering a active role-playing similar to a year-round Renaissance Festival. Neither project ever arrived.

So now comes Avatron and its high-tech focus and a built-in audience courtesy of LakePoint. With visitation at LakePoint expected to surge with the addition of other amenities, the residual effect should be outstanding. Avatron could be the theme park that finally happens. So what do we know so far? See below:

Previous story:

Avatron describes the park as follows: “Totally immersive, technology driven theme park drawing on the expertise of Hollywood’s leading Visual Effects Professionals. Project will also include up to 2 hotels initially along with retail operations both within the park and outside of theme park but on project land. Project may also include a music performance venue.”

The company is purchasing 713 acres from Paga Mine Properties, according to the DRI statement. The completion date is July 2018. The application was filed Tuesday with the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission for review.

Here’s an overview of the park proposal, again from Avatron:

“Unlock your imagination as you enter the doors of Avatron Park, your destination to a new world where entertainment meets fantasy and perception becomes reality. Patrons, young and old, create their own 3D avatar and embark on a voyage through the corridors of a virtual realm. Each step forward, guest are more and more entranced by an immersive and interactive experience created with 3D videos, motion capture, 4D sensory technologies, holograms, and augmented reality. Interacting with RFID wristbands and Kinect sensors, the digital theme park transforms reality into an intriguing quest of characters, folklore, legends, and customs.

“Advanced technology features enable designers to create a unique and limitless experience which extends beyond the walls of Avatron Park through simulated treasure hunts, digital games, and virtual worlds and engages guests to continue to relive the experience within the Park as well as in their own homes. Cutting-edge technology keeps audiences engrossed, intrigued, and encourages them to return. Avatron Park also creates an opportunity for engaging the visitor pre and post arrival.

“Nightlife at Avatron Park is transformed into an epic journey of music, dancing, and fun. Through the use of sound, light, motion, video, and projection technologies, Avatron offers partygoers a night to remember. After hours, Avatron Park transforms into a nightclub and 10,000 seat amphitheater for memorable music events and DJ concerts.”

We caught David C. Garrett, the chairman and chief executive officer of Avatron just as he was boarding a plane for California. We’ve sent him additional questions and also have a tentative arrangement for him to join us on Hometown Headlines Radio Edition on WRGA 98.7 FM on Thursday (7-9 a.m.; interview time to be set).