Destination Thomaston. Film Location of the Hunger Games, Mockingjay Part I. 

With the release of Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I this past week, we take a look at the state of Georgia in the United States. Most of the film, except for battle scenes which were shot in Paris and Berlin, were shot in localities around the state including, its capital Atlanta.

The Hunger Games franchise returns to filming in Georgia (where Catching Fire was shot) after the debut movie which was filmed mostly in the beautiful state of North Carolina, across locations such as Chimney Rock, Asheville and the Pisgah National Forest.

Destinations in Georgia such as Thomaston and Atlanta should be on the radar of any mad Hunger Games fan.

Chimney Rock – scenes from “The Hunger Games” film debut.

Thomaston

If you want to take a look at “District 12” head on over to Thomaston, Georgia which has been named one of America’s top 100 small towns with its laid back southern charm. Thomaston  was portrayed as the poorest of Panem’s districts (District 12) in the Hunger Games and boasts roughly the same population as the fictional district.

While the real life Thomaston may have a rather low median income, 4 out of five residents stated it was the best city in the southeast.

“It is rather rich in history and annually holds the longest running celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation that was put forth by President Abraham Lincoln proclaiming the freedom of slaves in the ten states that were still in rebellion”, Thomaston obviously honoring a rebellion for a moral cause much like District 12 and Katniss Everdeen.

Be sure to check out the beautiful Sprewell Bluff Sate Park while in Thomaston for relaxation amongst beautiful bluffs, river waters, and deer.

Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia’s Capital, was also a locale for shooting the film, and fans can gain an appreciation for “the Capitol” by traveling here.

Atlanta, which hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics, has been dubbed the capital of the new South and the world’s next international city. It hosts the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson International, and has had this title since the year 2000. Nearly 50 million people pass through its doors annually.

Atlanta. Get a feel for “The Capitol”. Photo CC by Shyam Rajaram

Atlanta attractions include but are not limited to:

World of Coca Cola: A permanent exhibition featuring the history of the Coca Cola Company.

Centennial Olympic Park: Part of the infrastructure of the 1996 Olympics the area now hosts summer concerts and this oasis in the city brings more than 3 million visitors annually

Six Flags Amusement Park.

Georgia Aquarium.

Georgia Dome: Home of NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.

CNN Center: The CNN Center is the world headquarters of CNN. The main newsrooms and studios for several of CNN’s news channels are located in the building.

So as Georgia may not exactly be the world portrayed in the Hunger Games, it is a wonderful state with much to offer. And don’t forget to grab some of their amazing peaches at roadside stands if passing through during the summer!

Mike Jerrard is an award winning photographer and the man behind the camera at Mapping Megan.

With a keen interest in current global news, he combines this with his passion for travel to bring you a new series putting a travel related spin on what’s currently in the news.