Fun Spot America Closing Ends Decades of Rides in Fayetteville

Fun Spot America announced Thursday that it will permanently close its Fayetteville amusement park following its final day of operation on Aug. 2, ending a chapter that began decades ago as the locally owned Dixieland Fun Park.

The Orlando-based company said in a news release that the Atlanta-area park will cease operations after Aug. 2, while its Orlando and Kissimmee, Florida, locations will remain open. Season passes and gift cards will continue to be honored at the Florida parks through their stated expiration dates, and the company said additional information for group reservations and affected guests will be shared in the coming weeks.

The closure brings to an end an attraction that generations of Fayette County families grew up visiting. Long before it became Fun Spot America, the park operated as Dixieland Fun Park, a locally owned, family-run business that became a fixture of birthdays, school outings, and summer vacations for area residents.

Fun Spot America purchased the park in 2017, bringing the Fayetteville property into its family of amusement parks and investing millions of dollars in new attractions over the following years. Those investments culminated in the opening of ArieForce One, a nationally recognized wooden-and-steel roller coaster that quickly became a destination for coaster enthusiasts from across the country.

Despite those investments, an individual familiar with the decision told The Citizen the closure was driven by the park’s financial performance.

Just four months ago, park officials spoke optimistically about the Fayetteville location’s future. In a February Business of the Week feature by The Citizen, General Manager Jennifer Martin said one of the park’s biggest challenges was simply making people aware that Fun Spot America Atlanta operated year-round. She said the park had been working to expand corporate events, school field trips, scouting programs, birthday parties, and other group business while continuing to serve local families.

Thursday’s announcement marked a sharp change in direction.

“Our Atlanta park has welcomed millions of guests over the years, creating unforgettable memories for families throughout the region,” Chief Executive Officer John Arie Jr. said in the company’s announcement. “Our team has poured their hearts into making Fun Spot Atlanta a special place, and we are deeply grateful to our employees, guests, and the Fayetteville community for their support.”

The company said it will work closely with team members throughout the transition and is committed to treating employees with respect while providing support resources during the closure.

Normal park operations will continue from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Aug. 2, giving guests one final opportunity to visit the park before it closes permanently.

The company has not announced future plans for the approximately 100-acre Fayetteville property.

For many local residents, however, the closure represents more than the loss of an amusement park. It marks the end of an attraction that, under two different names and two different owners, entertained families in Fayette County for decades.