BeST TrIpS 2. EXPERIENCE GEORGIA FILM FAVORITES IN SENOIA, COVINGTON & CONYERS Any fan of movies and television has seen the Georgia-peach logo at the end of the credits for projects that receive a film-tax incentive for shooting in Georgia. And while studio complexes have risen from Savannah to Athens, filming on location in Senoia, Covington and Conyers has been going on for decades—well before the incentives. Covington, where classics like Remember the Titans and the most recent Netflix series Sweet Magnolias came alive, is a solid place to start your experiential adventure. Grab lunch at Mystic Grill , which was partly inspired by The Vampire Diaries . The popular CW series about blood-sucking night-stalkers was filmed in town and inspired the restaurant’s owners to bring the on-screen story to life—in edible form. From there, take the Mystic Falls Tour , which leads junkets through more local areas featured on the show, including the clocktower, town square, the Gilbert family home and Malivore’s portal. Then hop on the Main Street Trolleys & Tours , whose Covington movie tour includes more than 40 filming locations, like where scenes from The Dukes of Hazzard were filmed. Behind-the-scenes details are shared by their tour guides. Rest your head at Twelve Oaks Bed and Breakfast , a historical home that was recommended as a model home for the movie Gone With the Wind . Less than a 10-minute walk away, find yourself at City Pharmacy for brunch or dinner, particularly if bacon-glazed salmon sounds enticing. For your next movie-and-TV stop, take a quick 10-mile day trip to Conyers. An easy way to get your bearings is the Filmed in the South guided tour, where you can see places like Olde Town Conyers, which you’ll recognize from TV series like The Originals and In The Heat of The Night . As part of the tour, you can make a reservation at Celtic Tavern , aka The Originals ’ “Gillespie’s Pub,” for on-set dining before or following your tour. If you’ve got time for a bit more sightseeing, the town of Senoia was not only the site of the state’s first stage complex, the Raleigh Riverwood; the town itself was the practical shooting location for The Walking Dead . For memorabilia such as signed posters and officially licensed products, visit The Woodbury Shoppe , whose owners include The Walking Dead ’s executive producer, graphic-novel creator and former studio co-owner. There’s also Georgia Tour Company , which offers the Southern Fried Films Tour for insights into classic Southern films. Senoia has a long history of filming—from Fried Green Tomatoes to The Fighting Temptations . When hunger comes back into focus, visit Nic & Norman’s , owned by The Walking Dead actor Norman Readus and TWD ’s producer and special-effects mastermind Greg Nicotero. It boasts brisket nachos, fried-chicken pot pies and an array of gourmet burgers. And if you’re ready for a break after all that “Y’allywood” action, take a trip to France without a passport. Lisa’s Crêperie , a cafe where sweet and savory crepes are the main fare, offers a variety of specialty coffees, teas, wines, beer and shakes for the happiest ending ever. FILMED IN THE SOUTH TOURS, CONYERS/SOLIA DIGITAL MEDIA EXPLOREGEORGIA.ORG 11
Official State Travel Guide 2024 Georgia Official State Travel Guide: Page 11
