DeKalb County, Georgia’s Hidden Filming Treasures

Discover 10 “Secret” Gems Perfect for Screen and Video Locations that Production Scouts May Have Missed.

There are many reasons film and television production crews have been flocking to DeKalb County in recent years: Easy access to the metro area’s array of facilities, technology and transit; a large (and youthful) population of well-educated men and women eager to join a vibrant industry; and active support from private and public entities such as the DeKalb Entertainment Commission.

Another reason is the assortment of locations suitable for essentially any sort of production, whether the need is for a sleek and swanky setting, a gritty urban streetscape or bustling streets and hustling shopkeepers.

It’s common knowledge that dozens of malls, hotels, hospital and college campuses routinely play host to film and television crews, but there are also some lesser-known sites that also offer intriguing and unique opportunities to the discerning eye of filmmakers and producers. The DeKalb Entertainment Commission is proud to offer a sketch of 10 such “Secret Sites” ready and waiting to provide a range of locations showcasing this diverse and vibrant region.

1. For decades Arabia Mountain was a little-known gem, a sprawling granite outcropping and one-time quarry surrounded by verdant forest and an inviting lake. Now the centerpiece of the 40,000 Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature preserve, the mountain features weather-carved rocks and pools suitable for unearthly landscapes, flowers and plants including rare and endangered varietals, along with endangered and greenery that erupts in color according to the season. The preserve is also home to the historic Flat Rock community, an African-American agricultural settlement more than 150 years old that hosts the 1917-vintage homestead of one-time Flat Rock community leader T.A. Bryant Sr. and is adjacent to the serenely beautiful Monastery of the Holy Spirit, itself an architectural marvel.
2. “Hidden in plain sight” is Dearborn Park in Decatur’s Midway Woods, a place of natural tranquility and serene pathways lovingly cleared to allow guests access to trails, paths and a quaint wooden bridge, where a visitor might encounter wildlife including several species of owl, blue herons, snapping turtles, fish and amphibious aquatic life and even the occasional coyote.
3. It would be easy to mistake the sprawling mansion known as Miss Rebecca’s House in Stonecrest as a painstakingly restored antebellum plantation house. In fact, the meticulously crafted “home” with its chandeliers, grand ballroom and entryway, elegant staircase, gazebo and plush living spaces is particularly well-suited to serve as a backdrop for film and television productions. The 38,000 square foot mansion has 19 bedrooms, 29 baths and is nestled on 35 manicured acres that include lakes, a walking trail, beach house and a gazebo, among its many features.
4. A particularly unique potential site for film and video production is the Drepung Loseling Monastery in north Dekalb County. The North American seat of traditional Tibetan Buddhism was established by The Dalai Lama, the Nobel Prize-winning spiritual leader exiled with many of his followers when China seized Tibet in 1951, who has often visited Atlanta’s Emory University and served as a visiting professor there. With its ornate shrine, intricate and colorful carvings and prayer flags and hundreds of images of The Buddha and other Buddhist deities and holy beings, the monastery and the many red-robed monks who populate it is an ideal site for scenes reflecting spiritual and contemplative subjects.
5. Built in 1834, The Mayor’s House in the city of Stone Mountain has been carefully restored and now serves double duty as a restaurant and incubator for cultural and artistic programs. With wrap-around verandas at the ground and second-story level, the Mayor’s House offers a truly authentic setting for historical scenes and also hosts a changing array of local artists’ works.
6. Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, housed in an ornate, historical mansion on a 12-acre that was once the home to Charles Candler, the eldest son of Coca-Cola magnate Asa Candler. In addition to the luxurious wood paneling and high ceilings that characterize the home itself, the grounds also include an amphitheater, carriage house, conservatory and garden.
7. First opened in1949, the Starlight Drive-In on Moreland Avenue in south DeKalb is one of the few remaining active drive-in theaters left to remind visitors of a golden age when families would pile into the car for a night of cinema – and when couples seeking a bit of darkened privacy might also find their own entertaining pastimes! Open seven days a week, the Starlight features a snack bar and boasts multiple screens.
8. The venerable Matthew’s Cafeteria on Tucker’s quaint Main Street has been serving classic Southern food since 1955, and provides a daily meeting place for locals and others who want to sit and enjoy the family-style ambiance and excellent cooking. If a script calls for a classic down-home restaurant or diner scene, Mathews is an ideal spot.
9. The Michael C. Carlos Museum on the Atlanta campus of Emory University is an excellent location for filming museum and art collections scenes, with multiple galleries housing permanent collections of art and artifacts from Africa, the Americas, ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and the Near east. It also regularly hosts visiting exhibitions, and the ornate stone facade and quiet courtyard is perfect for academic scenes.
10. It’s impossible to pass through Decatur’s downtown without noticing the ornate Historic DeKalb Courthouse dominating the town square. Built in 1918 to replace an earlier courthouse razed by a fire, the historic County Courthouse was used until 1967 when a new justice center complex was built. The interior of the courthouse features a beautiful ceremonial chamber, marble-clad interiors and staircases. Along with the manicured lawn, plaza and covered bandstand on the square, the site is perfect for scenes including weddings, concerts and festivals.

These are just some of the hidden gems scattered throughout DeKalb County and its array of diverse, prosperous municipalities. The DeKalb Entertainment Commission and its many partners are eager to assist screen and television production crews in arranging shoots here or elsewhere. Find your perfect location here.