During a trip to Atlanta, Georgia, we thought it was time to pay a visit to the Chick-fil-A Backstage Tour to learn more about the chain.

We recently had the pleasure of checking out the Chick-fil-A Backstage Tour thanks to our Chick-fil-A Red status. The kids enjoyed dining at Chick-fil-A throughout the year and this was a way for them to learn more about the company. It’s fun taking them to behind-the-scenes opportunities, especially those that are kid-friendly like this one.

What is the Chick-fil-A Backstage Tour?

The Chick-fil-A Backstage Tour is a behind-the-scenes opportunity to learn more about the history of Chick-fil-A. You’ll get to know more about S. Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, starting all the way back when he operated his first business as a child selling bottles of Coke to the neighborhood. You’ll also see how the company changed through the years, including how the mascot changed from being a chicken to the cows we know today.

The tour lasts about an hour and includes a 10-minute informational video. You’ll want to bring your walking shoes as you’ll mostly be standing for the rest of the time.

Where is the Chick-fil-A Backstage Tour?

The Chick-fil-A Backstage Tour is located in Atlanta, Georgia at the company headquarters. It’s only about a 10 minute drive away from Atlanta International Airport (ATL) along GA-14. Simply exit Buffington Road and head south to find their HQ at 5200 Buffington Road, Atlanta, GA 30349. Upon entry, hang in the left lane to have a chat with the security team who will check your ID and welcome you in.

Once you park in the guest parking lot, you’ll find the campus is quite beautiful with plenty of trees like you’re in a small forest. One bit of trivia: the speed limit around the campus (21 MPH) is a tribute to when their founder S. Truett Cathy was born (1921).

Given the relative proximity to ATL airport, it’s certainly possible to stop by if you have a long layover if you plan it in advance.

How do you get entry to the Chick-fil-A Backstage Tour?

This backstage tour is best for fans of Chick-fil-A and especially those who have Red status with Chick-fil-A One (the middle tier). Both Red and Signature members get free admission to the Backstage Tour for themselves and up to 5 guests. Chick-fil-A Red status requires $400 in spend at Chick-fil-A restaurants annually (4,000 points earned at 10 points/dollar).

If you don’t have Red status and wish to visit in person, the tour costs $10 per person. Groups of 10 people or more can get discounted admission of only $5 each, and families of 4 can get in for $30.

Once inside, the front desk will check off your name and all hand out guest badges to you and everyone in your party. While the website recommends those 6 and older to join, they’re more than happy to welcome in kids of any age. We had a 1 year old in our party and they were thrilled to meet her (she also didn’t count against our 5-guest list of invitees).

There is a virtual option, but we think the in-person experience is more immersive and is preferred. However, the virtual option is free so if you’d prefer just to get a sense of what the in-person tour is like without leaving the comfort of your house, you can certainly do that.

What are the highlights of the backstage tour?

The Chick-fil-A backstage tour is separated into four main areas while on the campus:

• The video room where you’ll start and end your tour
• S. Truett Cathy’s attempts at finding the right fast food restaurant in a recreation of one of his diners
• S. Truett Cathy’s office where they invite new owners to complete the ownership process
• The display of cars that hold significance to S. Truett Cathy

The video room

Our visit started off in the video room where we got to see a bit more into the family of Chick-fil-A. This includes a little primer on S. Truett Cathy, his family who is still engaged in the company today, and a bit on what makes Chick-fil-A special. Sure, it’s a little bit of propaganda, but what do you expect when going on a tour at a company?

After the completion of the roughly 10-minute video, you’ll hear more about how the tour works from the team. They asked if any active military or veterans are present to present them a commemorative token. And then they provided a little bit of Chick-fil-A trivia, answered some questions, and then we were on our way.

The recreation of The Dwarf Grill, an early Truett diner

The Dwarf Grill was one of Truett Cathy’s first fast food restaurants. And your first stop along the tour is seeing a recreation of his diner, which has the original fryer and grill used in his store. Some interesting trivia about The Dwarf Grill:

• A steak plate was just 65 cents when The Dwarf Grill opened.
• All menu items combined only cost $7.50 in total.
• There was no chicken sandwich yet on the menu.
• This diner operated 24 hours a day because it was right next to Delta HQ and it would serve to Delta employees all night long.
• Despite potential profits from a cigarette machine, Truett Cathy removed the machine out of concern for the wellbeing of his staff.
• Just like Chick-fil-A, the Dwarf Grill was also closed on Sunday

After the visit to the replica of The Dwarf Grill, we saw some memorabilia from Chick-fil-A through the ages. They also proudly advertised their two types of Chick-fil-A scholarships: one for those in college for the upcoming school year who demonstrate financial need and one for employees who wish to continue their education.

Lastly, there’s a vault here that (allegedly) contains the secret ingredients to their chicken. No one has been able to crack the safe to discover its mysteries. Will you be the first?

Entering the office of S. Truett Cathy

The tour continued on the upper floor of the corporate office, accessible either via stairs or elevator. But before seeing his office, we got a little more trivia. Did you know that the original Chick-fil-A mascot was a chicken named Doodles? He survived until the 1980’s when a commercial of Doodles eating chicken emerged, causing backlash amongst the community. They then changed the mascot to the cows you know today. Life seems a bit simpler back then, no?

The 1980’s were also a tough era for the company because of financial issues. At this point, Truett Cathy introduced their corporate purpose:

To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.

They believe this purpose helped them refocus their efforts into their product and led them to greater financial success.

And with that, we got to see his office, which is still in use today. This is where new owners come sign their final paperwork and take a picture behind the desk. It’s intended to be a bit of a treat for them upon completion of the training program they host here on campus.

While we weren’t allowed to sit in the chair, the kids did enjoy getting their picture taken next to it.

You might have also noticed they carted up a replica of Truett Cathy’s first business venture to sit in front of his desk. All this started when he was a kid, selling bottles of Coca Cola for just 5 cents each (back then you could buy 6 for $0.25).

The car collection

After we finished up in the office, we came back down to the first floor where we got to see some of the cars that hold special value to S. Truett Cathy. Some cars include the classic vehicles he used to park outside his restaurants to promote people to come inside. No, that Toyota Corolla isn’t considered a “classic” car.

The most entertaining car was the Batmobile, which was a little bit of an impulse purchase for Mr. Cathy. He thought it was it was a street-legal car that would drive him around town in style. Instead, he got a street-illegal car that didn’t actually work as a car. Instead, it only shot out blue flames and maxed out at 27 mph.

Famously, he entered the corporate HQ in a Batman costume and told everyone to come out and watch him drive it. Of course, it broke and was a bit of a dud performance. Still, the memories of the stunt remain here in the car showroom and passed down through the generations. It sounds like Truett Cathy was a good sport about the whole thing. If nothing else, it’s a reminder to just have some fun.

Are there any freebies from the tour?

You might wonder if you get anything for free on the tour. Yes, you do! All visitors will receive a “Be our guest” card good for one chicken sandwich (original, spicy, or grilled) or for an 8-count of chicken nuggets. There could be other special occasions that result in even more cards that get distributed, but I think you can at least just bank on the free sandwich. That’s not a bad deal if you’re an elite member getting a free tour.

On top of that, if you’re active military or a veteran, you’ll receive a special token, which I believe varies depending on the branch you’re in.

The gift shop

At the conclusion of the tour, you could stop by the gift shop they have at HQ. This is your chance to buy all the Chick-fil-A trinkets, hats, and shirts you’ve always wanted.

Before you go hog-wild, you should know that everything here is also available online. Prices in store are the same as online.

FAQ for the Chick-fil-A Backstage Tour

Are you tempted to come visit the Chick-fil-A Backstage Tour?

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