This cache is located near an almost forgotten but fascinating piece of Atlanta history, Briarcliff Manor.
The now abandoned estate was the home of Asa "Buddy" Candler Jr., the eccentric son of the co-founder of Coca Cola. Built in 1920, the estate once rivaled the more famous Callanwolde which was the home of his brother Charles.
Among is many eccentricities was Buddy's fondness for exotic animals. While in Europe, he purchased a small zoo and had the animals shipped to Atlanta where they would be installed in a private menagerie on the 42 acre estate where they were housed in elaborate cages designed by the architect Bodin.
The animals in the collection included a Bengal tiger, four lions, a black leopard, a gorilla, baboons, and six elephants named Coca, Cola, Pause, Refreshes, Refreshing and Delicious. The animals were later donated to the fledging Grant Park Zoo, now known as Zoo Atlanta.
The strange history of the mansion continued when it was sold to the General Services Administration in 1948 with plans for a veterans hospital. Though these plans were never realized, the estate served as an addiction clinic before being transformed into the Georgia Mental Health Institute in 1965. During this time, a multi-story tower was added and it was surrounded by numerous cottages connected by underground tunnels. GMHI closed in 1997 and the estate has been slowly crumbling into obscurity ever since.
Like me, Buddy was interested in magic and sleight of hand tricks which he learned on his travels to China and India. A 1930 newspaper article described one room at the estate as being "full of equipment for magic shows," and reported that each Spring he would host a "high-jinks" magic show and party for friends
This cache while was placed while I was scouting for an upcoming film shoot on the Emory University Campus. Enjoy discovering it and exploring this almost forgotten piece of Atlanta history.