Where history and Hollywood are celebrated in paint on public structures

Gas Station on the corner of Washington & Elm | 2024 by Tamara Haase, Georgia Brushstrokes

Look around Covington as you dine, shop, relax on the historic square or jump on a trolley tour. See all the murals?

Here in The Hollywood of the South™ we celebrate our history and filmmaking – with more than 170 television shows and movies having been filmed – in whole or in part – in Covington and Newton County since 1954.

Our cover mural, Welcome to Covington Where Community Grows, was unveiled in late 2024 and painted by the artist, Tamara Haase, who has been integral in capturing the essence of Covington through her Georgia Brushstrokes mission and business.

“Where Community Grows” is an honor to the many parks, trails, and sidewalks with beautiful foliage, and the Farmers Market, so central to community life in the seasons of summer and early fall.

Covington’s film, history, and The Twelve Oaks Inn | 2020 by Tamara Haase at the Welcome Center

Inside the welcome center, your eyes might first notice the airborne General Lee car in this mural. Oh, those Dukes of Hazzard, the police evading do-gooders of 1979 to 1985 television fame, whose antics were first filmed here in Covington before show production moved to Hollywood.

This mural also beautifully depicts the Twelve Oaks bed and breakfast inn, lead detectives of In the Heat of the Night, the plane that Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise landed on the square to make a beer run, in the classic comedy movie Cannonball Run. Notice our early horse-drawn trolleys, iconic courthouse, mid-century cars and Mystic Falls, VA sign – famed Vampire Diaries television series.

Vampire Diaries: Damon and Stefan – side of the Welcome Center | 2021 by Tamara Haase, Georgia Brushstrokes

On the side of the Covington Welcome Center, fans of the Vampire Diaries can pose for fun with Vampire brothers Damon and Stefan in Damon’s 1969 Chevy Camaro convertible. You can see the screen-used car inside the Welcome Center.

Corner of Pace St. and Clark St. | 2021 by Tamara Haase, Georgia Brushstrokes

Featured on the side of Golden Fleece Lodge No. 6, the Welcome to Covington mural highlights the many renowned movies and television series filmed in Covington, such as The Dukes of Hazzard, In the Heat of the Night, The Vampire Diaries, and, more recently, Sweet Magnolias.

Closeups of the television cameos

As part of Covington’s Public Art Initiative for Neighborhood Transformation (PAINT), area artists volunteered to paint the hydrants with a wide variety of themes and colors – materials supplied by the City of Covington.

Commissioned by Bee Fresh Bowls | 2021 by Tamara Haase, Georgia Brushstrokes

City Pharmacy | 2017 Designed by Green Olive Media and painted by Buckhead Murals

City Pharmacy is a chef-driven restaurant and bar in downtown Covington. It is in the old City Pharmacy building that operated in the 1920s to 1990s (briefly changed names and owners). Then, as now, the food and drink are “guaranteed to cure.”

“When my dad had the pharmacy, it had the same blue colors on the white wall, but it was all text and it said, ‘Where Friends Meet’, then underneath, ‘Here to Serve You’. And we knew we wanted to do another one for the restaurant.” – Tedo Stone, owner of City Pharmacy restaurant, with wife Sasha Stone

WildArt Building 1105 Washington St. | 2021 for television series Just Beyond

This mural was painted by an artist working with the producers for Just Beyond, a supernatural fantasy television series. You can see this mural in Season 1, Episode 7. The Disney Company was supposed to return the wall to its original condition after filming, but people liked it, so the mural is here to stay.

Commissioned #InsuredbyCIG | 2021 by Tamara Haase, Georgia Brushstrokes

Discover Covington where the intersection of history and Hollywood meet and take photos of your favorite murals and art installations around town. There’s always a reason to come back each season for festivals, farmers markets, athletic pursuits and relaxation in our many parks and trails, arts performances, live music and a lively shopping and dining experience.