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AMC Purchases ‘The Walking Dead’ Studio for $8.25 Million

AMC has purchased Riverwood Studios, the 120-acre facility that has served as the home base for The Walking Dead since 2011, for $8.25 million. Located about35 minutes south of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and the town of Senoia, the studio has been  owned by Kudzu Productions Inc.

According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the transaction was officially closed on July 19th

Kudzu Productions Inc. is primarily owned by Paul Lombardi.  Scott Tigchelaar, former president of Riverwood Studios AKA Raleigh Studios Atlanta, also has a small stake in it.

Through Senoia Enterprises, Tigchelaar and Brian Jagt have spent the past decade developing downtown Senoia (or as fans like to call it ‘Walking Dead Tourist Town’), which fans may recognize as the fictional town of Woodbury in the third and fourth season. The company also owns the walled-off residential area known on the show as Alexandria.

“The studio is owned by my uncle Paul,” Tigchelaar said. “He no longer wanted to be a studio owner.”

AMC has been the sole tenant on the property for seven years, so it comes as no surprise that they would be the first ones to make a purchase on the studio.

“This is a good sign that AMC is committed to Georgia and will be here a long time,” Tigchelaar stated.

Ric Reitz, president of SAG-AFTRA Atlanta, said AMC’s purchase is yet another sign that Hollywood is setting deeper roots in metro Atlanta as the generous tax credits for production companies enters its tenth year.

“It creates a broader footprint for an established television network,” Reitz said. “Georgia is now their home base for any other production or series or movie they might want to make. It’s a very smart buy.”

Although the ratings for the hit AMC series may have their good and bad days, The Walking Dead is one of those shows that is not going anywhere anytime soon. The show is one of the most viewed on television, right next to Game of Thrones.

The Walking Dead will return in the fall.

 

Sources: RadioTalkTVBlog