Whispers of a bygone era linger around Briarcliff Building B. This isn’t just any building. It’s a piece of Atlanta history. Briarcliff Building B stands on land once owned by Asa Griggs Candler Jr son of the Coca-Cola co-founder. Imagine the extravagance. The original Briarcliff Estate was more than a mansion. It was a sprawling 42-acre property. It included a private zoo. Yes a zoo. Home to a Bengal tiger four lions a black leopard a gorilla baboons and even six elephants. Their names? Coca Cola Pause Refreshes Refreshing and Delicious.
Briarcliff Building B’s history is rich and layered. Initially the site housed a large farm. Candler Jr. managed a vast agricultural operation supplying meat and produce. During World War I it even provided milk to Fort Gordon. The mansion itself was built between 1920 and 1922. It boasted a 1700 square foot music room. A three-story-tall vaulted Tudor interior with a limestone fireplace. There were multiple dining rooms. One could seat 75 people. The solarium featured a fish pond and stunning oil murals. Seven bedrooms included two master suites each with a carved marble fireplace. A ballroom painted in gold leaf graced the third floor. The basement held a large walk-in safe. The red tile roof a testament to the original grandeur has since been replaced with asphalt.
The estate extended far beyond the main house. It included servants’ quarters tennis courts stables greenhouses a laundry facilities zoo buildings a golf course and even a community swimming pool. The pool was open to the public for 25 cents a person. It featured a neon-lighted fountain. A Coca-Cola stand provided refreshments.
After Candler Jr’s financial troubles the estate was sold. It became home to the Georgian Clinic. This was Georgia’s first alcohol treatment facility. Later the Georgia Mental Health Institute occupied the grounds. Multiple cottages were connected by tunnels. This is a building that’s been witness to many stories. From extravagant parties to the quiet struggles of patients. Reports of hauntings add to Briarcliff Building B’s mystique.
Today Briarcliff Building B stands mostly empty. It is part of Emory University’s Briarcliff Campus. The mansion remains in disrepair. Yet the echoes of its past continue to resonate. Its walls whisper stories of extravagance eccentricities and the enduring spirit of Atlanta. The building stands as a powerful reminder of a captivating chapter in Atlanta’s history. A story of opulence decline and the resilience of the past. This is Briarcliff Building B a place where history and mystery intertwine.