HOLLYWOOD IN TOCCOA Toccoa’s just about ready to get its own “HOLLYWOOD”-style letter
Movies filmed in Toccoa have premiered on Inspiration Network
sign. For much of cinema history, the West Coast, specifically Cali-
(INSP), Netflix, Amazon, and other means of distribution. According
fornia, has been home to most movie studios and filming locations.
to the production company executives who have produced films in Toccoa, what makes these films truly unique in our homegrown
Now, and for the past two years, Georgia has surpassed California and is the number one place in the world to do business in the film industry.
community is how hospitable and supportive the people and civic leadership of Toccoa-Stephens County are to them. Our people come in droves to be extras in the films. They enjoy be-
According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development,
ing involved and wearing period-appropriate attire. We have quite a
just in the fiscal year 2017, film and TV production had an economic
collection of vintage automobiles right here in our area, and often-
impact in Georgia of $9.5 billion.
times, local homes are utilized for cast and crew.
Toccoa has seen quite a bit of the filmmaking business. Not only due
Our downtown businesses have been used as filming locations,
to the natural beauty of our community, picturesque downtown with
for serving the cast and crew, building props, managing wardrobe,
quaint shops and restaurants, historic courthouse, beautiful pas-
and other logistical needs for the sets. The Historic Ritz Theatre has
tures, lakes, rivers and rolling hills, farming homesteads with a vari-
served as the premiere location for two of the films, with more sched-
ety of barns and original outbuildings, and the list goes on, Toccoa
uled for the future. Our hotels, conference centers, restaurants, local
has become a prime scouting location for reps in the film industry.
retailers, as well as residents, all benefit from the investment made in our community during the preparation, shooting, and wrap up of
Toccoa-Stephens County is a Georgia Camera Ready Community
each film project in Toccoa-Stephens County.
and has been home base for six film projects in the past three years. Some of those films include Heritage Falls, County Line, Legal Ac-
The film production crews keep coming back to Toccoa, not only
tion, The Legend of Five Mile Cave, and When We Last Spoke. All
because of the natural beauty, but because of the amazing people
of which have brought well-known actors such as Melissa Gilbert,
who make our community a great place to do business and a great-
Cloris Leachman, Corbin Bernsen, David Keith, Tom Wopat, Jeff Fa-
er place to do life! Come on downtown to Toccoa so you can see
hey, Grant Goodeve, Eric Close, Tommy Flanagan, Adam Baldwin,
what keeps them coming back!
Jill Wagner, and Jet Jurgensmeyer to Toccoa.
LIVING ON MAIN STREET • 22
