Georgia's Fort McPherson, the historic Army base that operated in suburban Atlanta from 1885-2011, has been sold to filmmaker Tyler Perry, who plans to redevelop the facility as movie studio.
Perry will control 330 of the facility's 448 acres and has plans to build up to 16 soundstages. His $30 million purchase includes the post's former golf course, key office buildings and the fort's historic parade grounds and officers' quarters.
A civilian agency has been tasked with redeveloping 144 acres of land not included in Perry's purchase. Those plans could include rehabbing the fort's historic village in the northeast quadrant of the post and turning it into neighborhood retail and restaurants.
Tyler Perry has become a major player in Georgia's growing film industry and the new studio will house his company's 350 employees.
Before its establishment as an Army base in 1885, the land was used as a Confederate base during the Civil War and later as a post for Federal troops occupying Atlanta during Reconstruction.
