Covington, Ga. might look like a regular small town, but it is actually one of the most-filmed places in the South. Its streets have shown up in countless movies and TV shows, making it a kind of open-air studio.
The town has become one of the most recognizable filming spots in the South, despite its otherwise unassuming look. Shows like The Vampire Diaries, Legacies and In the Heat of the Night have turned Covington, a town of less than 15,000 people, into a living museum where everyday life happens right next to scenes millions have watched on screen.
What may make Covington stand out to producers and directors looking for a set is how naturally cinematic it is. The town square looks like it was designed for a movie long before anyone brought cameras here. Old brick buildings, historic homes, big lawns and perfect sidewalks all line up in a way that feels almost unreal. Film scouts noticed that years ago, and the town has frequently been booked ever since.
The state as a whole hopes to benefit from the film industry eyeing Georgia as it banks on tourism and tax dollars coming back to it in the future with an investment of over $1.3 billion tax credits in 2024 alone, according to the Associated Press.
The near-constant filming changed Covington in ways that are easy to spot. Restaurants stay busy even on random weekdays, shops sell show-themed merch and fans travel from all over to take photos in places they recognize from their favorite scenes. It is the kind of town where folks might grab a coffee and casually walk past a crew setting up lights like it is no big deal. Additionally, as winter break approaches, it is also the kind of place that could be a perfect day trip for Mercer students looking for something fun to do over break or during any free weekend.
Underneath all the filming hype, Covington is still a real community trying to hold onto its identity. Locals care about keeping the town’s history intact while also embracing the opportunities the film industry brings. So far, they have managed to balance small-town life mixed with a full-time movie set.
Covington did not just earn the title “Hollywood of the South,” as the town's tourism board has labeled it, it grew into it one production at a time until the town became something unique: a place where everyday streets double as scenes millions recognize, and where Southern charm meets nonstop filming energy.
