10/06/2026
Why we did the Smokey and the Bandit Tribute this past weekend.
Did you know there’s an incredible connection between the Lakewood 400 Antiques Market and the legendary movie “Smokey and the Bandit”?
It all started in the 1970s, when our father, Ed Spivia, served as Georgia’s Film Commissioner. During that time, he became great friends with Burt Reynolds and helped bring major motion picture productions to Georgia. Burt Reynolds ultimately filmed eight movies in the state, including the classics “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Smokey and the Bandit II.”
And that’s where the Lakewood story really gets interesting.
During the filming of “Smokey and the Bandit II,” a memorable chase scene was filmed at the old Lakewood Fairgrounds in Atlanta. Buford T. Justice was hot on the Bandit’s trail as the chase tore through the fairgrounds and around the roller coaster — ending with the roller coaster coming crashing down!
While filming at Lakewood, our dad fell in love with the historic fairgrounds and saw something bigger. He had a vision of transforming the property into a major motion picture studio.
Soon after filming was completed, Dad worked with the City of Atlanta and secured a 100-year lease on the Lakewood Fairgrounds. While he was working to raise funding for his movie studio dream, another opportunity came along — an antiques market.
And what started as an opportunity became something incredible.
The Lakewood Antiques Market grew into the third-largest antiques market in America, with more than 1,500 dealer spaces and crowds of more than 25,000 shoppers coming to Lakewood.
For 20 years, the antiques market called the historic Lakewood Fairgrounds home.
Then Dad’s original dream finally came full circle. The opportunity arose to turn the property into a major film studio, and the Lakewood lease was sold to Screen Gems Studios. Today, the old Lakewood Fairgrounds is home to one of Georgia’s largest film production studios.
Dad then moved the antiques market to its current home in Cu***ng, Georgia, where the Lakewood 400 Antiques Market continues the tradition today — opening the first weekend of every month.
So with Lakewood and “Smokey and the Bandit” sharing such an incredible history, we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the movie’s upcoming 50th anniversary of filming.
So, this is why we did the TRIBUTE TO “SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT”
We look forward to seeing you at the next Market on November 6-7-8.
