Alabama Mountain Lakes/Film Office
Info
Locations
Incentives
Film Credits
Contact
Introduction to Alabama Mountain Lakes/Film Office
From mountains and lakes to rockets and space, North Alabama has it all. The sixteen-county region is abundant with opportunities for filming and music videos.
North Alabama, specifically “The Shoals” region (Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia), is famously known as the “Hit Recording Capital of the World”. For over six decades, this area has produced massive hits for icons like Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones, Cher and Alicia Keys.
Iconic music recording studios in North Alabama include:
FAME Studios: Established in 1959 by Rick Hall, this Avalon Avenue studio in Muscle Shoals launched the legendary “Muscle Shoals Sound”. It is still active and open for tours.
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio: Founded in 1969 by the legendary “Swampers” rhythm section, this studio at 3614 Jackson Highway in Sheffield is where acts like the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan recorded iconic tracks. It operates as both a working studio and a museum.
Cypress Moon Studios: Formerly the second home of Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, this Sheffield facility has a deep history of recording legendary classic rock and country acts.
Alabama Music Hall of Fame (Tuscumbia): While primarily a museum honoring Alabama’s musicians, it offers a “You Can Be a Recording Star” experience where you can record a song yourself.
If you are a musician or recording artist looking to work in the area, there are additional production facilities across the region, including academic hubs such as the University of North Alabama (which features state-of-the-art student and commercial studios) and contemporary production spaces like Five Points Recording in Huntsville.
Productions That Call Alabama Mountain Lakes/Film Office
“Filmmakers are discovering what we already knew—North Alabama is a storyteller’s dream,” says Tammy Reist, President/CEO of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.
“Whether you’re looking for historic downtowns, stunning riverfronts, rural farmland, or dramatic mountain views, it’s all right here—and our Film Office helps bring it to life.”
Production Credits
- Muscle Shoals Documentary
- Muscle Shoals; “Dixieland Delight” by Alabama
- Fort Payne; “Traveling Alone” by Jason Isbell
- Moulton; “Shake” by MercyMe
- Huntsville; “Let’s Roll” by Yelawolf featuring Kid Rock
- Gadsden; “Eat Sleep Love You Repeat” by Rodney Atkins
- Florence; “Show Me respect” by Bobby Wills
- Muscle Shoals; “The Cheap Seats” by Alabama
- Fort Payne; “Sound and Color” by Brittany Howard
- Athens
A Few Filming Locations in Alabama Mountain Lakes
The 16 Counties of Northern Alabama
The 16 Counties of North Alabama
Blount County
Colloquially known as the “Covered Bridge Capital of Alabama,” historic structures include Swann and Horton Mill Covered Bridges and dramatic deep river gorges, perfect for period pieces and nature scenes. Rickwood Caverns State Park provides underground limestone formations and fossils, while rolling foothills, sparkling rivers, expansive farmlands, and quaint rural towns offer numerous backdrops for myriad projects.
Cherokee County
Discover stunning boulder fields and sandstone cliffs at Cherokee Rock Village, which makes for great alien terrain. Abundance of agriculture scenes are found in the rural county. Outdoor scapes pair well with the quiet communities along the Coosa River (Weiss Lake) and Lookout Mountain, for rural dramas and southern inspired films. Hwy 411 Drive In Theatre is a great atmosphere for nighttime filming.
Colbert County
Music history flows through this county, including the Muscle Shoals and the FAME Recording Studios, and dynamic riverfront settings, waterfalls, springs, and canyon landscapes. Historical architecture and cultural appeal can be found in the town of Cherokee, and at the Helen Keller’s birthplace, Ivy Green. Whether you’re filming a music documentary, and outdoor commercial, or an independent southern film, you can find it here.
Cullman County
Think farm country where rolling pastures are dotted with painted barns and grain silos. Working farms, like Fortner Farm (used in a Hallmark feature), provide filmmakers with country settings and film-ready locations for rural projects.
DeKalb County
Capture stunning waterfalls, cliff-side views and deep canyons at Little River Canyon National Preserve for dramatic natural scenery. LRCNP is also shared with Cherokee County. Both Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain are part of the area for opportunities of historical and countryside scenery. The quaint town of Mentone, is an artist favorite with a mountain town atmosphere.
Etowah County
Glimpse impressive Victorian architecture and riverfront greenspace in smaller historic towns like Gadsden, perfect for old Southern charm and small-city characters. Waterfront staging is abundant in places along the Coosa River and Lake Neely Henry, which include boating and tranquil scenes.
Franklin County
This county in the Tennessee River Valley comprises cozy river towns, including Russellville, which lend farms and wooded areas to outdoor projects. Quiet, rural roads wind through pastoral landscapes, along with riverscapes and serene forest settings.
Jackson County
Meeting at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, this county is ideal for high-elevation filmmaking on Lookout Mountain. Stunning waterfalls, hiking paths, scenic byways, foggy mornings, and bucolic small towns provide the perfect backdrop for period projects and several outdoor scenes.
Lauderdale County
The historic town of Florence has an authentic Southern downtown, including antebellum homes and architecture, and canals for unique shots and romantic scenes. Filmmakers will appreciate the juxtaposition of Wilson Dam and Shoals wetlands, with functional industrial and natural settings combined.
Lawrence County
An area of Muscle Shoals wetlands extends into Lawrence County, which also includes rustic towns and river bluffs. This tranquil farm country provides backdrops filled with bridges and expansive fields, perfect for family dramas and heritage-themed projects.
Limestone County
If you’re looking for vintage car trails, scenic byways and bike paths that meander through rolling farmlands and sleepy towns, Limestone County is the place. The county features antebellum architecture and a historic town square for period-based films. They also host numerous festivals, creating a lively atmosphere.
Madison County
Filmmakers seeking urban backdrops will find a plethora in places like Huntsville, which includes high-tech facilities, vibrant murals along the Huntsville Mural Trail and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. This region is a dynamic setting, ideal for sci-fi, tech, futuristic, city/suburban, and gritty urban productions.
Marion County
Marion is an eclectic mix of rural communities, forested areas, vast farmland, and Shoal Creek. Its location is ideal for productions featuring rural landscapes, family and heritage narratives, outdoor adventures, and historical films.
Marshall County
This county is home to Guntersville Lake and State Park, offering marinas, waterfront landscapes, lakeside cabins, and forested areas. Small historic towns boast old courthouses and Southern charm, perfect for family-friendly productions and period pieces.
Morgan County
Situated along the Tennessee River, Morgan County is home to Decatur and Hartselle, offering urban riverfront backdrops, rail lines and industrial filming opportunities. Bucolic farmland and wooded expanses in eastern Morgan offer mid-size town storytelling for rural projects.
Winston County
Bankhead National Forest boasts rugged landscapes, including rushing waterfalls, caverns, and dense forestland, perfect for thrilling wilderness pieces, nature-focused films and historical narratives. Mountain roads and small historic towns provide a rustic and Southern atmosphere for all types of productions.
Learn More
Alabama Mountain Lakes Film Incentive — What You Need to Know
The Alabama Mountain Lakes (AML) Film Office vets each project individually and decides both if you qualify and how much of the state incentive pool you receive. Bring a solid budget, schedule and regional-impact pitch—those factors carry weight during review.
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Alabama offers refundable tax credits for qualified film, television, and music projects. Film and television productions must meet a minimum spend of $500,000, while qualifying music albums must have expenditures between $30,000 and $200,000.
Qualified projects may receive a 35% incentive on payroll paid to Alabama residents and 25% on other qualified production expenditures
Cash-flow mechanics
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Rebates are issued as a refundable tax credit—convertible to cash even if you owe zero Alabama income tax.
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Credits can be assigned to lenders so you can borrow against the expected payout during production.
Why base in AML Country?
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Dramatic Tennessee-Valley mountains, waterfalls and lakes within a 90-minute drive of Nashville’s talent pool.
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Film-friendly municipalities that streamline road closures, drone waivers and state-park access.
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AML Film Office supplies no-fee location pulls, crew/vendor rosters and compliance coaching so your paperwork clears audit the first time.
Learn More About Rebates & Incentives
Unlock the Perfect Backdrop for Your Production
CONTACT
North Alabama Film Commission
Thereasa Hulgan
(256) 523-8766
www.northalabamafilm.org
