‘The Walking Dead’ brings new life to Georgia town where several scenes were filmed

GRANTVILLE, Ga. – When the cotton mill closed, Grantville began a slow transformation into a ghost town.

Residents fled. Storefronts faded. Buildings decayed.

But filming of the hugely popular TV show “The Walking Dead” has renewed interest in the rural Georgia town and the ruins of its old buildings. The series’ fourth season premieres Oct. 13 on AMC.

Several key scenes in one episode that aired last year were filmed on and near a one-block stretch of Grantville’s Main Street.

Mayor Jim Sells said that once that episode aired, tourists began showing up from as far as Australia, Singapore and Brazil.

Sells now leads a free tour each week for fans of the show. So far, more than 3,600 people have taken it.