Middle Georgia Hospital consolidated with Macon's Charter Medical Corp., now a national mental-health care provider. In 1984, Charter also built Charter Northside Hospital, north of Forsyth Road. Meanwhile, Coliseum Park Hospital, now Coliseum Medical Centers, opened its doors in 1971 under the direction of the Hospital Corporation of America. The Convention and Visitors Bureau formally organized in 1978 under the Chamber of Commerce. Before that time, tourism stops consisted mainly of old homes and the Ocmulgee National Monument.
Tourism now brings millions of dollars to the Macon area.
The jump in the agency's budget is also an indication of the growing number of visitors. In the past 10 years, the number of hotel rooms has doubled, now totaling nearly 5,000. But the center also promotes attractions such as Rose Hill Cemetery, city tours, festivals and seasonal visits to historic homes. Through most of the 1900s, Macon's economy was predominantly fueled by textiles, the railroads and small industry. This all changed in the early 1970s when, in quick succession, Bibb County snagged a number of big industries in the area that is now the Ocmulgee East Industrial Park.