Fans of the Netflix series Ozark are preparing to have their nerves shred as the show returns for the first part of its fourth and final season.
The series stars Jason Bateman and Laura Linney as Marty and Wendy Byrde, who relocate their family from the city of Chicago to the seemingly more tranquil forests of the Ozarks in Missouri after a money-laundering scheme goes awry.
Trouble has a way of following the Byrde’s to the idyllic landscapes, however, as the woods and the locals soon reveal dark secrets of their own.
Beyond all the murder and mayhem, the lakes and woodlands of the Ozarks look like a positively lovely place to visit – but does the picturesque location actually exist?
Is Ozark a real place?
The Ozarks are indeed a real place in the United States – they are a group of mountains that span across the US states of Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
The mountains form two ranges which include the Boston Mountains of Arkansas – which features the highest point known as Buffalo Lookout – and the St Francois Mountains in Missouri.
The ranges span across 47,000 square miles, meaning it is the most extensive highland region between the Appalachian and the Rocky Mountains.
The area is also home to the Lake of the Ozark – known as ‘The Magic Dragon’ due to its winding pattern – is a man-made 92 mile stretch of water with restaurants and bars along its edge that attracts millions of tourists every year.
You can currently travel to the US from the UK to visit the Ozarks, but make sure to check with the latest travel guidelines before booking as there may be restrictions.
Where is Ozark filmed?
Surprisingly, the show isn’t shot amid the forests and mountains of the real Ozarks themselves.
The Netflix series is predominantly shot in the Atlanta area, with Lake Allatoona and Lake Lanier standing in for the Ozarks lakes.
It is also filmed on constructed sets in Georgia, with other filming locations including Canton, Braselton, Norcross, Marietta, and Woodstock.
Only a handful of shots were actually filmed in Lake Ozark, Missouri, including shots of the famous ‘Welcome To Lake Of the Ozarks’ sign and the ‘Injun Joe Muffler Man’ statue.
