Old Atlanta Prison Farm

The Old Atlanta Prison Farm (also known as the Honor Farm) is a long-abandoned city-owned prison complex located on Key Road in southwest DeKalb County. Since its official closure in the 1990s, the site has become a significant focal point for urban explorers, conservationists, and political activists. 

Current Status & Recent Developments

As of March 2026, the site is no longer purely “abandoned” but is in a state of transition:

• Safety Training Center (“Cop City”): A portion of the 300+ acre site has been developed into the controversial 85-acre Atlanta Public Safety Training Center.
• Proposed Public Park: The City of Atlanta is currently moving forward with the Restoration Memorial and Preserve Masterplan to convert the remaining 200+ acres of the site—an area larger than Piedmont Park—into a public greenspace and memorial.
• Access Restrictions: The site is strictly no trespassing. In recent years, security has been heavily increased with fences, motion detectors, and cameras to prevent urban exploration. 

Historical Background

• Operational Years: The farm operated from roughly 1922 until 1995.
• Function: Low-security inmates, many arrested for public inebriation, performed agricultural labor, including raising livestock (hogs and cattle) and growing vegetables to supply the region’s prison system.
• Controversies: Modern historical analyses by groups like the Atlanta Community Press Collective have highlighted a history of systemic abuse, racialized violence, and the potential existence of unmarked graves on the grounds.
• Unusual Fact: The site also reportedly served as a graveyard for Zoo Atlanta animals, including elephants and the first famous gorilla, Willie B. 

State of the Ruins

The remaining structures are in severe disrepair due to decades of neglect and multiple fires (most notably in 2009 and 2014). The buildings are heavily covered in graffiti and kudzu, and many parts of the interior are structurally unsound with dangerous hazards like obscured holes.