Dahlonega Film Tour
At once welcoming and wild, the North Georgia town known for its gold sparkles on and off screen.
The spectacular destinations in the Northeast Georgia Mountains appeal to every type of traveler, from foodies in search of a great bite to outdoor adventurers looking for thrills. But did you also know that the area has been used in Georgia television and film projects? The gold rush era town of Dahlonega in particular has had its small town charm captured on the silver screen.
The town that's pure gold on the silver screen
Downtown Dahlonega
Dahlonega is best known for being the site of the first major gold rush in the United States in 1828. Set around the 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse, which now houses the Dahlonega Gold Museum, shops, restaurants and tasting rooms line the square. Today, the town is known for being home to a number of wineries and the University of North Georgia. A few projects that have filmed in town include "Christmas in Homestead," which tells of an actress who visits a small town around the holidays to film a movie, and a TV pilot titled "Hail Mary" about a young small-town mayor named Mary Wolf.
Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery
Dahlonega is full of wineries and tasting rooms, including Three Sisters Vineyard. The first family farm winery in Dahlonega is a favorite destination for its 184 acres. The winery has a tasting room with a cherry wood bar serving from their selection of reds, whites and muscadine varieties. They even have chocolate pairings. Stop by for a drink on their patio for live music. Hallmark Channel's TV movie "Christmas in the Smokies" was filmed entirely in Dahlonega, including at the winery. In the film, a family fights to save their farm against all odds during the holiday season.
Chesatee Wildlife Preserve
This North Georgia wildlife preserve is open to the public and allows visitors to encounter 125 species of rescued animals, including alligators, chimpanzees, leopards, lions and more. Set on 30 acres of farmland, Chestatee Wildlife Preserve volunteers provide educational lessons on these creatures. In "The Hunger Games" series, specifically "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay: Parts 1 and 2," the natural landscape was used for filming. Katniss and Gale hunt for elk in District 13.
