Its “Movie Star Monday” and we are on the second stop in our search of pavers around the square that highlight productions that were filmed here. Our next stop on the walk of stars is the ‘In the Heat of the Night” paver, you can locate it in front of the courthouse and Bill Gillespie paver is in front of People’s Home Medical which was used as the Sparta Police Station.
“In the Heat of the Night” filmed in Covington from 1989 and finished filming on 1995. The six years they filmed in The Hollywood of the South® left many places that can be easily seen by visitors. Locals and travelers can visit the Covington Square to take an awesome self-guided “In the Heat of the Night” tour, visiting all of the famous filming locations and putting themselves right in Sparta, Mississippi.
Start your tour at the corner of Southwest Conyers Street and Monticello Street Southwest, where you will be at the Sparta Police Station. This was one of the biggest filming spots, and will definitely be a recognizable street. Also on Monticello Street is the Magnolia Café!
After leaving the Magnolia café, walk a block to the corner of Conyers Street and Church Street, and you’ll be at Virgil and Althea Tibbs’ Home! Directly across the street is the Sparta Methodist Church. If you head down two streets and back up to Reynolds St., you’ll be standing in front of the Sparta Funeral Home, where so many Sparta funerals took place.
Go down a few blocks to the corner of South St. SW and Monticello St. SW and you’ll find one of the best In the Heat of the Night spots. Chief Gillespie’s home is more toward South St.
After you’ve seen all of these great spots, head over to Baker Field Park. This is where the Sparta Cemetery is located! If you drive back up to Clark St. SW and Monticello St., you’ll find the Sparta Courthouse. This is one of the best places to go as an ITHOTN fan.
If you need more information on self-guided tours stop by the Newton County Visitors Center located on Clarke’s street right off the square, they have a great self-guided tour brochure with all the popular locations.. Also stay tuned for next week’s “Movie Star Monday”
