Film Studio Hopes To Bring Movie Magic To Dixon

DIXON (CBS13) - It's lights, camera, action, but not in Hollywood. Instead, it would happen in Dixon.

A buyer wants to turn 400 acres of land into studio sets.

This is the public's first look at a set of plans that could bring a touch of Hollywood to Dixon.

Developers are hoping a big budget movie studio will sprout up in a Dixon field.

"It's good for the city; it's good for us," said Jim Danhakl, property owner.

More than 400 acres of alfalfa, walnuts, and corn could be replaced with movie sets depicting jungles, deserts, maybe even a shark tank.

But, why Dixon?

"It's hometown. It's non-Hollywood. It's like Mayberry. It's a creative environment that's not pretentious," said Carissa Carpenter, Morning View Studios CEO.

Carpenter showed off plans Thursday to Dixon landowners, saying it could have a billion-dollar annual economic impact, which would include bringing 1,000 jobs to the area.

"I never thought I'd see anything like this in my lifetime," said Bill Schroeder, land owner.

Dixon city leaders hope it will be a blockbuster for their budget.

"We would get property tax, direct sales tax, from anything that is purchased from our local businesses," said Dixon Mayor Jack Batchelor.

Construction and land costs will run around $830 million. Some landowners fear the financing could fall through.

"We want to make sure that the people are credible, that they really are going to build a movie studio, that they really have the means to build a movie studio," said Danhakl.

Carpenter says they have the cash; still, others are concerned it could rewrite the city's tight knit charm.

"Some people will think that Dixon will no longer be a small community. Many people, who live here in Dixon, moved here because they like the smallness of Dixon," said Batchelor.

However, fans of the plan are hoping the field of dreams will have a Hollywood ending.

The next step is for the movie studio company to finalize the purchase price with the land owners before they begin the planning process with the city.

The movie studio company is hoping to break ground on the project in about a year.