It looks like the beginnings of a theater in the vacant lot on the south side of Main Street in Senoia. But it’s not. And it looks like a revamping of the railroad complete with boxcars at Main and Gin streets. But it’s not.

Both are props for the filming of the third season of the highly rated AMC series “The Walking Dead,” set to begin shooting in town this week. These and other areas of Senoia will transform portions of the city into a sanctuary for the coming zombie apocalypse.

Speaking recently at a Senoia City Council meeting, the show’s location manager Mike Riley spoke only in general terms about the third season, though he did note that the scenario involves the city serving as a sanctuary in the midst of a zombie apocalypse.

“The town is walled off,” Riley said of the storyline that has Senoia serve as the main set for the show. “Inside the wall is a the safe zone and a benevolent dictator runs the town.”

Noting some of the specifics meant to create the desired effects of the show, Riley said the crew will construct a temporary, movable wall meant to look like a gate stacked with items such as old tires and doors that can be used along the area of Main Street and Travis Street.

Though filming is expected to occur in a number of areas around the city, Riley said the area of Main Street from Seavy Street to Travis Street will serve as the main set. The set might extend from Seavy to Johnson Street, Riley added. He said the production calls for store fronts to be left as they are to lend to the impression that the city is a safe zone.

Senoia will doubtless see an influx of visitors for the filming that will extend into November. And for Senoia, the summer and fall will bring a double-dose of visitors since the Southern Living magazine 2012 Idea House located a stone’s throw away just south of Gin Street will be open from June 2 through Dec. 23.