Built in 1916 on 117 acres of former Creek Indian land around a 15-acre lake, the Lakewood Fairgrounds were constructed for the home of the Southeastern Fair: an area that contained a circus big top, arcade games, vendors, and a large carousel that remained on the premises until 1967.
The fairgrounds were featured extensively in the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit, including the beginning and the ending of the film, the "Truck Rodeo" drag race, the Bandit on his hammock, the gate crashing scene, and the "Southern Classic Race."
For the second Smokey sequel, the film crew returned to the fairgrounds to incorporate the destruction of the wooden roller coaster, the Greyhound, as part of the film.
Today, EUE/Screen Gems is building a studio complex on the grounds for tv and film production.
