Atlanta, Georgia: The New World of Coca-Cola

In 1990, when Coke opened The World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia, it was one of the Seven Wonders of Roadside America, part of an elite fraternity that included House on the Rock and Precious Moments Inspirational Park. The World of Coca-Cola, an evolutionary leap from traditional factory tours, was the most self-indulgent, over-glorified, lavish shrine to a product that we had ever seen, and we told others to see it, too.

Farewell to the Old World (of Coca Cola): The venerable shrine to a carbonated beverage, the World of Coca-Cola, closes forever on April 7, 2007. The new facility, next to the Georgia Aquarium at Centennial Olympic Park, opens on Memorial Day weekend. It's twice the size of the original (as are many consumers of Coca-Cola products) and will feature a 27-foot-tall Coke bottle as an exterior attention-grabber.

At the World of Coca-Cola, there IS a New Coke exhibit, if you can call it that... there's a can and an ad. They're described as "Ad for new formulation of Coke" (or something like that). It's in the 80s section of the room called "The Real Thing," with the big polar bear in it and before the soda-drinking part. IMO they put them in an inconspicuous place, you kinda have to look for it.

An expansion plan is underway that will double the size of the World of Coca Cola by 2006 (the attraction, not the company's market share). Atlanta, Georgia's popular destination promises more changing exhibits, interactive experiences, and presentation gimmicks to wake up a thrill-jaded public....