The Disappearing Tower: What Happened to Batumi's Legendary Chacha Fountain?

BATUMI – A 25-meter tower with a golden dome once stood between the Yacht Club and the famous Ferris Wheel in Miracle Park. Tourists searched for it. Locals argued about it. And Georgian chacha was supposed to flow from its fountains.

Today, the tower is gone.

Demolished in 2024, the so-called "Chacha Tower" has been replaced by fenced-off construction sites and preparations for a new public green space.

What Was the Chacha Tower?

Built in 2012, the structure was a replica of an early 20th-century building that once stood on the same spot. But its modern claim to fame was something far more unusual: four small basins at its base were designed to spray real Georgian chacha – the country's signature grape brandy (50-70% alcohol) – for 10-15 minutes once per week.

The rest of the time, the basins would show advertisements.

It never worked.

Over the years, visitors described the tower as "dirty, empty, abandoned," covered in graffiti, and permanently closed. The chacha never flowed – at least not consistently or officially.

Why You Won't Find It on Google Maps

The tower's Google Maps listing was marked as "permanently closed" years ago and eventually removed. The exact location was 4 Gogebashvili Street (coordinates: 41.652806° N, 41.642639° E) – directly between the Yacht Club and the Ferris Wheel in Miracle Park.

Today, that address is a construction zone.

What's Being Built in Its Place?

According to Batumi City Hall decisions, the site is being transformed into a green recreational area. The many construction fences and equipment visible in the area are part of this redevelopment – not a new tower, not a new fountain, just a park.

Batumi's Strange Love for Bizarre Architecture

The Chacha Tower wasn't alone in its weirdness. Batumi is famous (or infamous) for:

• The Carousel Skyscraper – whose rooftop Ferris Wheel operated exactly once
• The Bottle-shaped Public Service Hall
• The Colosseum Hotel
• The Alphabet Tower – still standing and well worth a visit

The Chacha Tower was one of the shortest-lived of these experiments – standing for just about 12 years before vanishing.

The Bottom Line

If you search today for the Chacha Tower in Batumi's Miracle Park, you won't find it. The 2012 clock tower that was supposed to spray Georgian brandy for 15 minutes every week was demolished in 2024. A new park is being built in its place.

Now you know the story – and you can stop looking for a tower that no longer exists.

📷 Do you have old photos of the Chacha Tower before it was demolished? Share them with us for a possible "Lost Batumi" feature.

📍 Former location: 4 Gogebashvili Street, Batumi (now a construction site)