See the many movies filmed in Georgia’s diverse state parks.
Ever sit through an entire movie knowing it takes place in Indiana or Wisconsin only to catch that giant peach emerging at the film's conclusion? I've been there more times than I can count. That peach designates that the film was made in Georgia. So many have been made in Georgia these days that the state has been nicknamed the “Hollywood of the South.”
Yes, there are now soundstages in the Peach State to cater to filmmakers, but there's also the diversity of the state's landscapes, from mountains in the north to swamps and beaches at the coast and everything in between. And Georgia State Parks’ natural resources provide the perfect backdrop for many films.
Want to know what's been filmed in Georgia's state parks? Read on.
Movie: “A Walk in the Woods” starring Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, and Emma Thompson based on the book by Bill Bryson.
Scene: The main characters played by Robert Redford and Nick Nolte hike the Appalachian trail, beginning their story at the 8.5-mile Appalachian Approach Trail in Dawsonville at Amicalola Falls (see photo above).
Movie: “Trouble with the Curve” starring Justin Timberlake, Clint Eastwood, and Amy Adams.
Scene: Clint Eastwood stops for the night at this sleepy roadside motel in Dawsonville (just outside the park) while on a baseball scouting trip with his daughter, played by Amy Adams. The park's lodge was also used.
Netflix series: “Cobra Kai” starring Ralph Macchio
Scene: Season 1 of Netflix’s series filmed their training scenes at Panola Mountain State Park in Stockbridge.
Television Series: “The Vampire Diaries”
Scene: The lake at Panola Mountain State Park was the site for Georgia’s favorite vampires. Driving down Alexander Lake Road at night might look a little familiar to you as well. “The Vampire Diaries” filmed eight seasons of the hit series in the fictitious town of Mystic Falls (aka Covington, Georgia).
Television Series: “The Outsiders”
Scene: Be on the lookout for the haunted farm. The barn where the clothing was discovered was filmed in the historic Vaughters' Farmhouse on Klondike Road in Lithonia.
Movie: “Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives”
Scene: The frightening campsite scenes in this Georgia-filmed horror movie was shot in Rutledge at Hard Labor Creek State Park.
Movie: The 2012 film “Jayne Mansfield’s Car” starring Billy Bob Thornton, Kevin Bacon, and more filmed scenes at High Falls State Park in Jackson.
Television Series: “The Originals,” a spin-off of the Georgia-filmed “The Vampire Diaries,” shot scenes at one of the oldest state parks in the United States in Flovilla, Ga.
Movie: The thriller “Kill the Messenger” starring Jeremy Renner, Ray Liotta, Andy Garcia and more was filmed at several locations in and around Atlanta including in Acworth at Red Top Mountain State Park.
Movie: The critically acclaimed feature “The Peanut Butter Falcon” starring Zack Gottsagen, Dakota Johnson and Shia LaBeouf won more than 20 awards for this touching adventure story. The feature was shot in Savannah including scenes at Skidaway Island State Park near Savannah.
Movie: The Hallmark Channel’s adaptation of “The Beach House,” starring Andie MacDowell, Chad Michael Murray and Minka Kelly and based on the book by Mary Alice Munro was filmed on Georgia’s Coast with Tybee Island and Skidaway Island State Park near Savannah as its picturesque backdrop.
Sweetwater Creek State Park in Lithia Springs (outside the larger city of Douglasville, which was a favorite site for "Stranger Things," among others) has been used in many Georgia-filmed television series and films. Some titles include “The Resident,” “A Very Loud Christmas,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” “Killing Season,” “Boy Erased,” “Jungle Cruise,” “Just Mercy” and many more.
Some of the more notable productions include:
Movie: “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1”
One of the most iconic Georgia-filmed productions was “The Hunger Games” franchise. In “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1” we saw Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Gale (Liam Hemsworth) explore sections of Sweetwater Creek State Park and enjoy a moment by the river.
Television Series: “The Walking Dead”
AMC found Georgia to be the perfect backdrop for their most-watched series “The Walking Dead.” Sweetwater Creek State Park set the stage for the gruesome zombies who were crawling around the Georgia woods and many other poignant scenes from the production that shot 11 seasons in Georgia.
Netflix series: “Cobra Kai”
A regular series at Georgia’s State Parks – “Cobra Kai” chose the lake at Sweetwater Creek State Park in Lithia Springs to shoot a scene from episode seven with Sam and Daniel on a boat.
Movies: “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
At one time many Marvel films called Georgia home. Tallulah Gorge State Park served as the backdrop for many of them including “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
Movie: “Deliverance” starring Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Jon Voight
Scene: The 1972 classic film follows adventurers through the rugged wilderness of Northeast Georgia on an ill-fated canoe trip.
Television Miniseries: “Roots” starring LeVar Burton, Robert Reed, and many more
Scene: The eight-episode miniseries “Roots” captivated audiences when it first aired in 1977. The salt flats at Wormsloe State Historic Site were used to portray Africa in this award-winning mini-series.
Movie: “The General's Daughter” starring John Travolta, Madeleine Stowe, and James Woods
Scene: The Georgia-filmed “General’s Daughter” shot at the magnificent tree-lined drive of Wormsloe Plantation.
Movie: “The Last Song” starring Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth, Greg Kinnear
Scene: The Nicholas Sparks novel “The Last Song” came to life on the big screen in 2010. The film was a hit at the box office with millions of moviegoers around the world seeing Tybee Island, Wormsloe State Historic Site, and Savannah on the big screen. The lead character Will Blakelee’s family home was at Wormsloe.
Movie: “Magic Mike XXL” starring Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello.
Scene: While the film may have been set in Charleston, a private home at Wormsloe Plantation was featured along with the iconic image of the tree–lined drive that leads to the Wormsloe Historic Site.
Thanks to Pineapple PR for the information for this blog post.
Weird, Wacky & Wild South is written by film buff Cheré Dastugue Coen. She loves visiting Southern film sites and is a great friend of Rick.
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