Here Are 10 Historic Olympic Venues In Georgia You Can Still Visit Today
Hosting the Olympics is a huge honor, and the competition to host the games is almost Olympics-level in itself! Today we’re looking at 10 venues from the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta that you can still visit today. Some remain open; others have since closed; and a few have transformed into something new entirely. The Olympics had a massive impact on Atlanta, and it’s incredible to look at each of the buildings used to host this global event. Many of these sporting venues were built from scratch, just for the purpose of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Let’s take a look:
1. Alexander Memorial Coliseum - 965 Fowler St NW, Atlanta, GA, 30318
The Alexander Memorial Coliseum was the Olympic spot in 1996 for the boxing tournament. It held up to 10,000 people for each event. While you can still visit the coliseum, it has gone through over $45 million in renovations in 2010, and is now called the McCamish Pavilion. Today, it is the home of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball and Yellow Jackets women's basketball teams.
2. Stone Mountain Tennis Center - 1000 Robert E Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA, 30083
This tennis stadium was once a vibrant, thriving spot where some of the greatest in the sport gathered to play. It was also the iconic place where Andre Agassi and Lindsay Davenport won gold for America. Today, however, the courts lay in ruins, with chains up along the fences, and overgrown weeds reaching through the cracks of the clay.
3. Georgia Tech Aquatic Center - 750 Ferst Dr NW, Atlanta, GA, 30318
The Georgia Tech Aquatic Center now goes by the name of Georgia Tech Campus Recreation Center. The Aquatic Center was built specifically for the 1996 Olympics and cost $16.8 million to build. During the games, it featured competitions in swimming, synchronized swimming, diving, and water polo. Today, this building on Georgia Tech's campus offers fitness programs, competitive sports, aquatic programs, outdoor recreation, and more.
4. Georgia World Congress Center - 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA, 30313
The Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) is a convention center and exhibition space in Atlanta that hosts millions of people every year. During the Olympics in 1996, it hosted handball, fencing, judo, table tennis, weightlifting, and wrestling. Although a tornado tore through the convention center in 2008, the building was rebuilt. Today, the GCWW continues to be one of the country's premier destinations for conventions, trade shows, film production, and much more.
5. Centennial Olympic Stadium (Turner Field) - 755 Hank Aaron Dr SE, Atlanta, GA, 30315
Centennial Olympic Stadium is a place with quite a past. In 1996, Centennial Olympic Stadium was built and it became the center staple for the entire Summer Olympics. After the Olympics, however, the stadium turned into Turner Field and became the home of the Atlanta Braves. In 2017, Turner Field was sold to Georgia State University, and today it serves as the home of the Georgia St. Panthers college football team.
6. Georgia Dome - 1 Georgia Dome Dr, Atlanta, GA, 30313
The Georgia Dome was constructed a few years prior to the Olympics with the purpose of hosting athletic events. However, it was a main staple during the 1996 Olympics. Half of the arena hosted the Olympic basketball competitions, while the other half hosted the artistic gymnastics events and team handball. Demolished in 2017, its successor, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, was built adjacent to the south and opened on Aug. 26, 2017.
7. Clayton County International Park - 2300 Highway 138 E, Jonesboro, GA, 30236
Within this beautiful park in Georgia, you'll find the beach volleyball courts which were built for the 1996 Olympics. You can still play on those same courts today, as well as enjoy sun, surf, and sand at the park. Read more about this hidden gem beach here.
Many Georgians visit Lake Lanier each year to vacation along the beautiful shores. However, most don't know that this great lake was home to the sprint canoeing and rowing events during the 1996 summer Olympics. While you can't climb the finish tower, you can certainly photograph it from afar at this gorgeous Georgia beach!
9. Georgia International Horse Park - 1996 Centennial Olympic Pkwy NE, Conyers, GA, 30013
Throughout the entirety of the 1996 Olympics, more than half a million people visited the Georgia International Horse Park. This scenic venue hosted events in equestrian, mountain biking, and positions of the pentathlon. Today, you can still catch a race at the Georgia International Horse Park, as well as concerts and other special events.
10. Songbird Habitat Trail at Stone Mountain - 1000 Robert E Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA, 30083
During the 1996 Olympics, Stone Mountain not only hosted tennis, but also archery and track cycling. While both the archery and cycling track are overgrown now, they have become park of the Songbird Habitat Trail, which you can still hike today. Stone Mountain as a whole is also one of the best campgrounds in the Peach State, too!
Do you remember the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta? Did you attend any of the events in person, or know anyone who did? Share your memories and experiences in the comments section below — we would love to hear them!
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Address: 1996 Centennial Olympic Pkwy NE, Conyers, GA 30013
Address: 2300 Highway 138 E, Jonesboro, GA 30236
Address: 1 Georgia Dome Dr, Atlanta, GA 30313
Address: 755 Hank Aaron Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
Address: 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
Address: 750 Ferst Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Address: 1000 Robert E Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Address: 965 Fowler St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Address: 7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy, Buford, GA 30518
The OIYS Visitor Center
1996 Olympics in Atlanta
July 26, 2021
Sarah
How many people attended the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta?
The 1996 Olympics was huge for Georgia, attracting more than two million people to the Peach State. In addition, nearly 3.5 billion people around the world watched on television. The opening ceremony on July 19, 1996, attracted a crowd of approximately 83,000 to Olympic Stadium. Post-games, Atlanta saw a huge surge in population that continues to this day, from 3.5 million people in 1996 to nearly 5.5 million currently living in the metro area. The Olympics were a boon for the economy; with Olympic Park being its most notable legacy. The park was part of the Olympics' $5 billion economic impact on the city. (In a related note, the city saw a huge influx in traffic, too.)
How did the 1996 Olympics affect Atlanta?
As noted above, the Olympics had a huge impact on the economy, creating jobs and, in the case of Olympic Park, iconic tourist destinations. In terms of Olympic venues to visit in Atlanta, the eponymous Olympic Park reigns supreme. Another notable attraction to come from the games was the Georgia Aquarium, which today is one of the most beloved destinations in the Peach State. The Olympics undoubtedly put Atlanta on the map as a major global metropolis.
Where have the Olympics Games taken place in the U.S.?
It's a huge honor to host the Olympics Games, as the following U.S. cities can attest. Most recently, the 1980 Winter Olympics were hosted in Lake Placid, New York; the 1984 Summer Olympics were hosted in Los Angeles, California; the 2002 Winter Olympics were held in Salt Lake City, Utah; and in 2028, the Summer Olympics are set to be held right back in sunny Los Angeles!
A New Jersey native with over 15 years of writing experience, Marisa has studied at both New York University and Florida International University. She has lived all over the country, including a decade stint in South Florida. Marisa is well-versed in exploration as she travels a good majority of the year in her self-converted Sprinter van. Her articles have been featured in various notable publications over the years, she has a published collection of short stories, and three completed screenplays under her belt.
