Hollywood South
Nestled in a rural, farmland setting in Fayetteville, off Veterans Parkway, you will find the sprawling footprint of Trilith Studios, the largest film production facility in Georgia and the second largest film studio in North America! Known for blockbuster Marvel Studios’ movies and popular television shows such as Ant-Man, Avengers: End Game, Family Feud, Loki, Spiderman: No Way Home, The Suicide Squad and WandaVision, Trilith Studios has helped put Georgia on the map as the go-to site for movie and television production facilities.
The studio is the brainchild of former CEO of Chick-Fil-A, and Fayetteville resident, Dan Cathy. In 2013, River’s Rock LLC, an independently managed trust of the Cathy Family, began a joint venture with the UK-based Pinewood Group, looking to build its first film production facility in the United States. Known as Pinewood Atlanta Studios, its first production was the Marvel Studio film, Ant-Man, released in 2015.
In 2019, Pinewood Studios sold its shares to River’s Rock LLC. Under the continued leadership of CEO Frank Patterson, the studio changed its name to Trilith Studios. According to Patterson, the name was inspired by the architectural term “trilithon” – defining a structure of two large vertical stones supporting a third stone that is laid horizontally across the top, such as what you would see at Stonehenge in England. The name pays homage to the studio’s U.K. heritage.
There are currently 24 sound stages at Trilith Studios to accommodate productions of any size. Plans are underway to add 8 more sound stages. Stage 22, known as the Prysm Stage, is one of the world’s most advanced virtual production facilities.
A partnership between the Georgia Film Academy, Trilith Studios and The University of Georgia’s MFA in Film, Television and Digital Media offers students the opportunity to become the next generation of filmmakers, writers, and directors by providing hands-on training at the UGA campus in Athens and at Trilith Studios.
Live, Work, Create
Just across the road from Trilith Studios, you will discover the “new urbanism” town of Trilith, a 235-acre master-planned residential and mixed use community, envisioned as a gathering place for creatives, storytellers, and artists. The Trilith team, led by President Rob Parker, designed this walkable village to be “a place where creativity thrives on camera, behind camera and off camera.” Featuring a wide variety of single-family and multi-family homes and apartments, including Provencal cottages, Scandinavian homes, Mediterranean estates, and even tiny homes and treehouses, Trilith is dedicated to smaller footprint living while maintaining the highest quality standards.
But Trilith doesn’t attract just movie types – it has drawn an eclectic mix of young families, retirees, small business owners, doctors and other professionals. Sandra McFarland, a resident of Trilith and owner of 180 Pure Home in Trilith Town Centre, never planned to move away from Illinois where she has lived all her life. She and her husband and three children were grounded there, built a business there and were close to family and friends. When a friend moved to Peachtree City and told Sandra she should check out Trilith to open another retail store, she jumped right on it, came to visit in 2022, and fell in love with the community.
According to Sandra, “The idea of building an old-fashioned neighborhood, where you can live, work, learn, and play was inspiring! I love being known by my neighbors as I walk around town, sit at the coffee shop or enjoy a Friday night cocktail at ENZO’s. As a family, we are building these beautiful relationships as we progress from just chatting with neighbors on a walk to the mailbox, to inviting them over for dinner, to cultivating a deeper, more authentic relationship.
Although it is only a few years old, Trilith has already won numerous awards for its design. In 2021, Atlanta magazine ranked Trilith ninth place in its top ten metro Atlanta vibrant city centers. Trilith also won the Mixed-Use Community of the Year at the OBIE Awards in 2021.
Trilith is considered one of the largest residential geothermal communities in the world, requiring low toxicity in building materials, a top-of-the-line air filtration system and an emphasis on natural lighting. More than 50% of the town is dedicated green space, with 15 miles of nature trails, 54 acres of forest, 19 parks, and even an upscale dog park! Every home is within one block of green space. When built out, Trilith will include 750 single family homes, 600 multi-family lofts, 300 hotel rooms and a business district with an inspiring list of restaurants, retail shops, office and commercial space.
Walk around town and you will discover a stunning array of murals, artwork and sculptures, as well as beautiful landscaping. Fire pits and conversation spots are sprinkled throughout the area. Residents and guests can enjoy the tennis, ping pong and basketball courts, the Solea pool, and children’s playgrounds. For your fitness needs, you can join the world-class gym at Piedmont Wellness Center. Looking for a neighborhood church? Passion City Church has opened a satellite facility in Trilith and already hundreds are in attendance on Sunday mornings. Looking for a school? The Forest School, a private K-12 school, affiliated with the Acton Academy, is located at Trilith.
Stroll down Trilith Parkway and you will find a treasure or culinary treat to meet every craving. Pick up a fresh “grab-and go” bouquet at The Funky Shack Mercantile and Flower Market, chow down on a mouth-watering doughnut at Hero Doughnuts & Buns, pick up a new houseplant at green p.s. plant shop, or find the perfect home accessories at 180 Pure Home and Leyland Blue. Fine dining awaits you at ENZO Italian Steakhouse, or you can pick up a few organic groceries at Nourish + Bloom. Other shops and restaurants now open include Amici Italian Café, Archer Paper Goods, Barleygarden Kitchen and Craft Bar, Fairway Social, Woodstone Bakery & Café, and Thumbs Up Diner. Across the road at the Trilith Studios Production Centre, The Studio Café, operated by Hanna Brothers, the studio’s catering service, is open for lunch and weekend dinners, so you can dine like a movie star! The Trilith retail district keeps expanding, so don’t miss a chance to stop by often to check out the new additions.
Coming Attractions
In the Trilith retail district, the Portal Guesthouse, an innovative boutique hotel due to be completed in 2024, is taking center stage. The hotel will encompass 192 guest rooms and suites, including 36 extended stay accommodations, a street-level signature restaurant, rooftop bar, culinary studio and event space.
In March, Trilith announced it broke ground on a new seven-acre entertainment venue – Trilith LIVE, which will be completed in 2025. This future, one-of-a-kind attraction will feature a 1,800-seat auditorium, luxury cinema, indoor atrium, outdoor plaza, office space, food court and retail shops.
To keep up to date on all the happenings at Trilith, visit trilith.com.