Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed
Ozark is set in the Lake of the Ozarks region of Missouri, primarily around Osage Beach, but it was primarily filmed in Georgia around Atlanta's lakes and studios. Only a handful of establishing shots and the Bagnell Dam sequences were shot in Missouri. Series creator Bill Dubuque actually worked as a dockhand at the real Alhonna Resort & Marina on Lake of the Ozarks in the 1980s, the inspiration for the Byrde family resort, yet production still headed to Georgia for its film tax incentives.
The Studio Side
Interior sets, including the Lickety Splitz club, Russ's trailer and Buddy's basement, were built on soundstages at Eagle Rock Studios Atlanta in Norcross. These spaces are working studio facilities and are not open to the public, so there is nothing to visit there, though the Norcross area itself contains several exterior locations from the show, including Jones Bridge Park and the Lickety Splitz building.
Tours That Visit These Locations
Independent driving works well for the Georgia locations since most sit within an hour of Atlanta, but a guided option exists for travelers who prefer someone else to handle the routing and the film trivia.
Private Atlanta Film Tour, 3 Hours
Atlanta: 3 Hour Private Movie/TV Locations Tour
This 3 hour private tour of Atlanta movie and TV locations includes stops tied to Netflix shows, customized to each client's interests, so fans can request Ozark territory alongside other streaming hits. At $155 for the group, it suits travelers who want a tailored route without renting a car, and with 16 reviews on the books it has a track record of satisfied film buffs.
★ 16 reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Ozark actually filmed in the Ozarks?
Only partially. A few establishing shots and the Bagnell Dam scenes were filmed at the real Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, but the bulk of the series was shot in Georgia, around Lake Allatoona, Lake Lanier and soundstages near Atlanta.
Can you visit the Blue Cat Lodge?
Yes. The Blue Cat Lodge set was built at a former restaurant site near Canton, Georgia, and after filming it became a real operating restaurant called JD's on the Lake. Some of the original Blue Cat signage remains, and the restaurant serves seasonal lakeside dining.
Where is the Byrde family house?
The house exteriors were filmed on Lake Lanier near Flowery Branch, Georgia. The house itself is private property, but Van Pugh North Park, a public park and campground, offers views across the lake toward it.
Why was Ozark filmed in Georgia instead of Missouri?
Georgia's film tax incentives were a key reason. The state's production credits and established studio infrastructure near Atlanta made it far cheaper to recreate the Lake of the Ozarks there than to shoot on location in Missouri.
Is the Missouri Belle Casino real?
The casino exterior was the riverboat at Stone Mountain Park in Georgia, a theme park open to the public with admission. Casino interiors were shot elsewhere, and the boat visitors see today is a park attraction rather than a functioning casino.
Are the Ozark filming locations free to visit?
Most are. The lakes, parks, diner and dam are public and free, aside from normal parking or dining costs. Stone Mountain Park requires admission, and the Lickety Splitz building is viewable from the exterior only.
Georgia does a convincing impersonation of Missouri. With a car and a free afternoon, travelers can eat at the Blue Cat, peer at the Byrde house from a lakeside park and board a casino riverboat, all without leaving the Atlanta area, and a private tour offers the same territory for those who would rather ride than navigate.
