Fried Green Tomatoes: A Splash of Hollywood in Juliette
Your guide to where to eat and what to see in the town made famous by the 1991 film.
It’s not often you get to walk the street of a Hollywood set in Georgia. Sure, the state has seen a growing number of productions filmed here, but those are closed sets, not something you can actually see and touch.
However, in Juliette, Georgia, just 10 miles off Interstate 75 from Forsyth about one hour south of Atlanta, guests are welcome to ramble the set where "Fried Green Tomatoes" was filmed. The movie starred Jessica Tandy, Kathy Bates, Mary-Louise Parker and Mary Stuart Masterson, and was based on a book by Fannie Flagg about a friendship between two women in a small Alabama town at the turn of the century.
The movie was filmed more than 25 years ago, but Juliette remains much as the producers left it. Stop in to check out the scenery, shop and have a bite to eat. You're sure to love the little town as much as you love the movie.
Where to Eat
The Whistle Stop Cafe
In the movie, Idgie and Ruth run the Whistle Stop Cafe. Today, another strong Southern woman, Liz Bryant, owns the restaurant. An electrical engineer by trade, she’s also quite a cook. Her fried green tomatoes are legendary, but don’t limit yourself to the popular appetizer. We sampled fresh ground burgers, chicken fingers and amazing pecan pie a la mode. The Whistle Stop is worth the 10-mile drive from the highway even if you don’t have an affinity for the movie.
Things to See
Downtown Juliette
The town of Juliette has several cute shops where you can find antiques, art work, local honey and other treats. Juliette was originally called Glover, named for a local doctor. The Ocmulgee River runs through it as well as the railroad.
The Bank Building
The brick bank building at the center of McCracken Street was constructed on a vacant lot as a false front for the movie. Later, an actual building was constructed behind it, and now houses a gift shop. Look closely at the bricks. They are actually nailed on to the wooden building. On the side, you can see a few that are peeling off.
Grave for Buddy's Arm
In the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes," one of the characters loses an arm in a train accident. As a way to ease the town chatter, they hold a funeral for the boys arm. As you walk along McCracken Street, try to find the gravesite for "Buddy’s Arm." Two graves are marked with the names of Buddy Threadgood and Ruth Jamison. Another by the hickory pit bears the reading of: Here lies Frank Bennet of Valdosta, "The secret was in the sauce."
For more about the Whistle Stop Cafe and Juliette, Georgia, visit 365 Atlanta Traveler.
