In case you missed it, Netflix dropped a new show last year called "Ozark."
It stars Jason Bateman (you may remember him as Michael Bluth in "Arrested Development") as a financial advisor who dabbles in money laundering for a drug cartel.
RELATED: Good news for ‘Ozark’ fans seeking more
When trouble arises, what with all the crime and such, Bateman and his family are forced on the run. They land at a lake in the perennially far-flung, uninhabited fly-over Ozarks. Of course, drama ensues. But that lake isn't the Ozarks at all−it's Allatoona. And that marina, that restaurant and that gentleman's club: those are all actually located in metro Atlanta.
The whole show is shot here thanks to the same statewide filming tax credits that entice so much of Hollywood's production schedule.
The show, which will return in 2018, has been generally well-received. It's got a healthy score of 67 on Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes, and while the show "hasn't yet reached the same level as the classic crime dramas to which it will inevitably be compared, it's satisfyingly complex plot – and a gripping performance from Jason Bateman – suggest greater potential," according to Metacritic.
Once you're all caught up on the biggest show to hit Atlanta since "The Walking Dead," you can see these Lake of the Ozarks locations around the metro area for yourself.
Credit: Bob Andres
Credit: Bob Andres
Little River Marina (Lake Allatoona)
6986 Bells Ferry Road, Canton.
The Little River Marina got a new lease on life when the now-closed restaurant, the Little River Grill, became a central location to the plot of "Ozark" in the form of The Blue Cat Lodge. Netflix may have taken ownership of the fictional Blue Cat Lodge −the old Little River Grill building is now used entirely by "Ozark" production staff.
Victoria Harbour Marina and Sunset Grille (Lake Allatoona)
1000 Victoria Landing Drive, Woodstock.
When the old Little River Grill closed, it left behind The Sunset Grille as the last functioning marina restaurant left on Lake Allatoona. The Sunset Grille can be found at the Victoria Harbour Marina, where a laid-back, dog-friendly patio is brought to life with live music, bar food and lakeside views. In "Ozark," the harbor can be seen in Episode 4, Season 1.
6025 Oakbrook Pkwy, Norcross.
Along the way in Ozark, Bateman's character seeks advice (and later, other stuff) from the gentleman's club "Lickety Splitz." For exterior shots of the club, the show producers used an abandoned building in Norcross (at 6025 Oakbrook Parkway) near the extended stay hotels dotting that landscape, while interior shots were filmed on a sound stage at Eagle Rock Studios (which is also in Norcross).
Credit: Martin Parr
Credit: Martin Parr
200 14th St. NW, Atlanta.
Georgia Tech's famous neighborhood diner Silver Skillet is a regular in film and television. It's been a backdrop for "Anchorman: The Legend Continues," and "Remember the Titans," and it's used for its vintage aesthetic once more in Ozark's Episode 8, Season 1.
1425 Roswell Road, Marietta.
The Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q in Marietta is the first of the famed restaurant's locations, and the brand has expanded locations since 1990 and begun selling its BBQ sauces in many grocery stores. Yet, the original spot down the street from Marietta's famous Big Chicken has retained its old-school southern feel, and now it appears in Ozark's Episode 4, too.
Credit: Kimberly Smith / AJC
Credit: Kimberly Smith / AJC
100 Rue Charlemagne Drive, Braselton.
At one point in "Ozark," bad guy Esai Morales invites Marty and Bruce to Chateau Elan. Only, in the show, the property is not the wedding, golf and wine destination 53 miles north of the city. Nor is it the place made famous in YouTube wine making videos. Instead, Ozark uses the area resort as location shots for Morales' guest rooms, cabanas and bar.
Credit: Jason Getz
Credit: Jason Getz
4901 E. Jones Bridge Road, Peachtree Corners.
When Roy and Russ go fishing in Episode 4, presumably at the River Light Rapids, they are actually two actors, reading lines in Jones Bridge Park. The Gwinnett County park is 30 acres of community space, sports and river views with a trail.
About the Author