From manor to mansion in Covington, Ga.

By Brian Jewell

Courtesy Covington CVB

The small town of Covington has developed a big reputation as Georgia’s film and television hot spot. Television series such as “The Dukes of Hazzard” and “In the Heat of the Night” were filmed in Covington, and the city has also been the backdrop of numerous major motion pictures.

Today, the television drama “The Vampire Diaries” is filmed in the area, and many buildings and locales around town appear in the show. The most prominent of these locations is Worthington Manor, a private historic home that is depicted as Lockwood Mansion in the show.

Groups that make arrangements with the Newton County Convention and Visitors Bureau can take a private tour of the home and meet the owners, who work hard to maintain the house and its five acres of grounds in immaculate condition.

During the tour, the owners tell visitors about their exquisite collection of artwork and antiques, and recount stories of scenes and events from “The Vampire Diaries” that have been filmed at the estate.

www.gocovington.com