Where the Walking Dead is Filmed: A Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse Locations
The Walking Dead is one of the most popular and acclaimed horror TV shows of all time. The series, based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore, follows a group of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies, or “walkers”. The show has been running for over a decade, with its latest season airing in 2023.
But where is the Walking Dead filmed? How do the producers create the realistic and terrifying settings of the zombie apocalypse? In this article, we will explore the real-life locations where the Walking Dead was filmed, from the first season to the tenth season.
Atlanta, Georgia: The City of the Dead
The first season of the Walking Dead was filmed primarily in Atlanta, Georgia, the capital and largest city of the state. Atlanta is where the main protagonist, Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), wakes up from a coma in a hospital and finds himself in a world infested by walkers. He then travels to the city, hoping to find his family and other survivors.
Some of the iconic locations in Atlanta that were used for the Walking Dead include:
- Rick’s house: The house where Rick lived with his wife Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) and son Carl (Chandler Riggs) before the outbreak is located in 817 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, near the historic Grant Park and the zoo. The house is a private residence, but fans can still see it from the street.
- The CDC: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention building, where Rick and his group seek refuge and discover the truth about the infection in the final two episodes of the first season, was filmed at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, a modern and elegant venue that hosts various events and performances. The building is located in northwest Atlanta, near the Chattahoochee River.
- The tank: The scene where Rick gets trapped in a tank surrounded by walkers in the second episode of the first season was filmed at the intersection of Forsyth Street and Walton Street in downtown Atlanta. The tank was a prop that was brought in by the production team, and the street was filled with extras and special effects to create the illusion of a zombie horde.
Senoia, Georgia: The Home of the Survivors
Since the second season, the primary filming location for the Walking Dead has been Senoia, a small town about an hour’s drive south of Atlanta. Senoia has been transformed into various settings for the show, such as the farm, the prison, Woodbury, Alexandria, and the Sanctuary. The town has also become a popular tourist destination for fans of the show, who can visit the filming locations and enjoy the Walking Dead-themed attractions and shops.
Some of the notable locations in Senoia that were used for the Walking Dead include:
- The farm: The farm where Hershel Greene (Scott Wilson) and his family lived and welcomed Rick and his group in the second season was filmed at a real farm owned by the Raleigh family, located at 4768 GA-85, Senoia. The farm is not open to the public, but fans can see it from a distance or book a tour with Atlanta Movie Tours, which has permission to access the property.
- The prison: The prison where Rick and his group took shelter and fought against the Governor (David Morrissey) and his army in the third and fourth seasons was filmed at the Raleigh Studios in Senoia, which is also the main production base for the show. The prison was a set that was built on the studio’s backlot, and featured a large fence, guard towers, cell blocks, and a courtyard. The studio is not open to the public, but fans can catch a glimpse of the prison from the road or book a tour with Atlanta Movie Tours, which has access to the studio.
- Woodbury: The town of Woodbury, where the Governor ruled over a seemingly peaceful and prosperous community in the third season, was filmed at the Main Street of Senoia, which was dressed up with props and signs to create the illusion of a small-town America. Fans can walk along the Main Street and see the buildings and landmarks that were featured in the show, such as the Woodbury Coffee House, the Woodbury Shoppe, the Woodbury Town Hall, and the Woodbury water tower.
- Alexandria: The Alexandria Safe-Zone, where Rick and his group found a new home and faced new threats and challenges in the fifth season and beyond, was filmed at a real subdivision in Senoia, located at 211 Gin Street. The subdivision was surrounded by a 15-foot-high metal wall, and featured several houses that were used as the residences of the characters, such as Rick’s house, Carol’s house, and Deanna’s house. The subdivision is a private property, and the residents still live there, so fans are not allowed to enter or take photos without permission. However, fans can see the wall and the houses from the outside or book a tour with Atlanta Movie Tours, which has access to the subdivision.
- The Sanctuary: The Sanctuary, where Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and his group of Saviors lived and operated in the sixth season and beyond, was filmed at an industrial complex in Senoia, located at 600 Chestlehurst Road. The complex was a former factory that was converted into a set that featured a large fence, a gate, a courtyard, and several buildings. The complex is not open to the public, but fans can see it from the road or book a tour with Atlanta Movie Tours, which has access to the complex.
Other Locations in Georgia: The Land of the Walkers
In addition to Atlanta and Senoia, the Walking Dead has also filmed in several other locations in Georgia, especially in its dense forests and rural areas. The show has used the diverse and scenic landscape of Georgia to create the atmosphere and mood of the zombie apocalypse, as well as to depict the different places that the characters have traveled to or encountered throughout the series.
Some of the other locations in Georgia that were used for the Walking Dead include:
- The highway: The scene where Rick and his group got stuck in a traffic jam on the highway and had to hide under the cars from a herd of walkers in the first episode of the second season was filmed at Interstate 20, near the town of Lithonia, about 20 miles east of Atlanta. The production team had to close down a section of the highway and fill it with hundreds of abandoned vehicles and extras to create the scene.
- The quarry: The quarry where Rick and his group camped and devised a plan to lure away a massive horde of walkers in the first episode of the sixth season was filmed at the Bellwood Quarry, a former granite quarry that is now part of the Westside Park, located at 4000 Northside Drive NW, Atlanta. The quarry is also known for being featured in other films and shows, such as Stranger Things, The Hunger Games, and The Vampire Diaries.
- The Kingdom: The Kingdom, where Ezekiel (Khary Payton) and his group of loyal followers lived and coexisted with a tiger named Shiva in the seventh season and beyond, was filmed at the Fort McPherson, a former military base that is now owned by Tyler Perry Studios, located at 1777 Lee Street SW, Atlanta. The Kingdom was a set that was built on the base, and featured a large gate, a school, a theater, a garden, and a stable.
- The junkyard: The junkyard, where Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh) and her group of Scavengers lived and allied with or betrayed Rick and his group in the seventh and eighth seasons, was filmed at the Tyler Perry Studios, located at 315 Deshler Street SW, Atlanta. The junkyard was a set that was built on the studio’s backlot, and featured a huge pile of trash, a maze of metal containers, and a helipad.
Conclusion
The Walking Dead is a show that has used the state of Georgia as its main filming location, and has showcased its various and beautiful locations, from the urban to the rural, from the natural to the artificial. The show has also brought fame and fortune to the state, as well as to the towns and cities that have hosted the production. Fans of the show can visit the real-life locations where the Walking Dead was filmed, and experience the thrill and horror of the zombie apocalypse for themselves.
This article was written by Bing, using the information from the web search results. The article is not intended to be a comprehensive or authoritative source of information, but rather a creative and informative piece of content. The article is not affiliated with or endorsed by AMC, The Walking Dead, or any of the locations mentioned. The article is for entertainment purposes only.
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