It’s been more than four years since rumors started roaming around downtown, like an oil-covered Key West tourist trying to find their bungalow at midnight, that a resort tower featuring the Margaritaville brand could sprout in Atlanta’s primary tourist district.

That day has come, and the result is a high-rise property that’s unlike anything else in the city, in terms of escapist vibes and options for staying there, according to Wyndham Destinations officials.

The dual-branded, 22-story “urban oasis” on Centennial Olympic Park Drive—officially called Club Wyndham Atlanta, and Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham-Atlanta—is now open, offering what’s described as a contemporary take on the timeshare model with Atlanta’s first vacation club resort property.

Into the lobby off Centennial Olympic Park. Courtesy of Wyndham Destinations

Designed to reflect the lights of downtown landmarks, the glassy modern building consists of 200 suites (some with full kitchens and laundry) meant to provide guests with two distinctive experiences: the sleeker Club Wyndham that “reflects the city’s forward-thinking approach as the modern hub of the New South,” and the Margaritaville “casual luxury” options, which come with a Frozen Concoction Maker® and roomier, relaxing living areas, according to Wyndham Destinations.

Perks include a 22nd-floor lounge and Bar ATL, a 19th-floor hangout with a large terrace and pool with skyline views. The base of the building features a two-story Margaritaville Restaurant designed to open up to street life and frame views of Centennial Olympic Park across the street.

Rooms are available now for both Club Wyndham owners and non-owners who’d like to “test drive the vacation ownership life” for varying amounts of time, according to the resort company.

Club Wyndham pricing available so far shows that studio suites—with between 423 and 559 square feet, and what’s described as space for four guests—are priced from $209 up to $489 per night in July and August. (Another consideration is onsite valet parking, which runs $55 per night.)

The largest lodging options are three-bedroom, 2,142-square-foot presidential suites that can sleep up to 12. Those rates are unlisted.

Courtesy of Wyndham Destinations

Margaritaville neighbors the SkyView Atlanta Ferris wheel, with marquee tourist attractions including Georgia Aquarium, CNN Center, World of Coca-Cola, and the College Football Hall of Fame within a few minutes’ walk. Atlanta’s NFL football, MLS soccer, and NBA basketball arenas also stand a few blocks to the west.

Before the resort project could break ground in 2020, historic preservationists, a handful of city leaders, and thousands of Atlanta petitioners rallied against construction to save a small, century-old structure at 152 Nassau Street, where country music’s first hit song is widely believed to have been cut in a former recording studio. A legal saga to save “the birthplace of country music” began in 2017, lasted two years, and eventually became national news (Rolling Stone covered it in 2019). Ultimately, however, the two-story structure and a neighboring surface parking lot were removed in 2020, clearing the site for its high-rise replacement.

Developed by Strand Capital Group, the Margaritaville/Club Wyndham property will be managed by Wyndham Destinations, the world’s largest vacation ownership business. It counts more than 245 club resorts globally, with a roster of more than 850,000 owners.

In the gallery above, have a look at how Atlanta’s version turned out, for so many tourists (or staycationing locals) covered in oil.  

• Recent downtown news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)