The 1884 Newton County Courthouse is a well-known sight to anyone who watched the TV series “In the Heat of the Night” (based on the same-named motion picture); it was filmed in Covington for eight seasons. The town also provided the setting for the first five episodes of another popular program, “The Dukes of Hazzard.” The Covington Visitor Information Center offers a brochure detailing the sites of TV shows and motion pictures shot on location in Covington and Newton County. The Walk of Stars, brick pavers featuring the film industry, is found downtown.
Nearby is Hard Labor Creek State Park, a 5,804-acre complex with cottages, two lakes, a swimming beach, boat rentals, an 18-hole golf course and a bring-your-own-horse stable. .