The attractions were wacky and ambitious

The rides, shows and events at The World of Sid and Marty Krofft were very creative, much like the brothers’ television programs. Though some of the attraction received mixed reviews from attendees, the concepts behind them were quite impressive. Here’s what The World of Sid and Marty Krofft had to offer its guests.

A crystal-filled carousel

One of the most fascinating attractions was a large carousel that “floated” on a cushion of air and allowed you to ride mythological creatures made out of crystal. Famous designers came from all over the world to Los Angeles to design the figures, which were then shipped to Atlanta via 200 large trucks. The carousel weighed 47 tons in total.

A pinball machine-themed dark ride

Another popular attraction was meant to make you feel like you were in a giant pinball machine. Riders were placed in pods shaped like balls that would richochet around the area of the attraction.

An arcade

An arcade was with the pinball machine ride at the center of the park in the Uptown area.

The longest freestanding escalator in the world

Guests reached the highest levels of the park through an escalator that the Guinness Book of World Records named the longest escalator only supported at its ends at eight stories tall and 205 feet long.

Four uniquely named lands

The Atlanta park had fun titles for each of its “lands.” They were Tranquility Terrace, Uptown, Lidsvile and Living Island Adventure. Guests were given ticket booklets with one ticket for each area.

A carnival area

There was a floor with three circus trailers, each of which had a performer who did a two- to three-minute show based on a different narration. The most popular trailer involved Berry Broadbent, a bellydancing purple rhino voiced by Ruth Buzzi. The carnival area had a silly stilt-walking master of ceremonies.

A live performance stage

The live performance stage had a number of shows, featuring things like a team of three breakdancers, a slack rope walker, and a song-and-dance show. A number of shows in this area involved little people like Debbie Dixon from Star Wars and John and Greg Rice, named the “World’s Shortest Living Twins” in the Guinness Book of World Records. 

A Krofft character show

Kids (and maybe adults!) that came to The World of Sid and Marty Krofft for their love of the Krofft TV shows likely had the most fun here. It had a Krofft forest theme, a crafts stall with a leather crafts person and a theater with a live-action character show. One of the shows featured popular character H.R. Pufnstuf and other Krofft characters trying to stop adversaries Witchiepoo and the henchmen.

The Land of Green Ice

This was a skating rink on the ground level of the Omni International complex. At one point there was an ice skating show celebrating the bicentennial of the United States in 1976.

Fun facts

Here are some interesting tidbits about The World of Sid and Marty Krafft shared by people who attended it back in the day.

• Steve Whitmire, the puppeteer from Georgia who has played Kermit the Frog since the death of Jim Henson, worked at the park as a teenager with one of his homemade puppets
• The park had an Elton John puppet in one of the attractions where they would paint your face like him.
• The invitation to the opening of the World Sid & Marty Krofft came in a shiny black box and was printed on a dickey with a real bowtie.