Georgia Public Broadcasting program to focus on Fitzpatrick Hotel, lost gold

Fitzpatrick Hotel owner Guillaume Slama and the Georgia Traveler crew work on a scene from the show outside the hotel's entrance. The program will air in October.

Georgia Public Broadcasting's program "Georgia Traveler" has discovered Washington and Wilkes County, and they're going to tell the whole state about it.

"This is my first time here, and we love it," said David Zelski, the popular show's producer. "The people have been great, we've learned a lot about the history of the area, and all the old stories like the lost gold."

The primary focus of the show will be on the lost Confederate gold and the revival of the historic Fitzpatrick Hotel, he said. "But we'll also show some of the things you can do around town, and we get into the restoration of the town Square and how restoring a place like the Fitzpatrick helps bring back towns."

Last week, all day Monday and again on Friday, the Atlanta-based crew, including videographer Shane Keating and production assistant Sammy Jones, saw the historic sights throughout Washington, host Mike Horgan said, with Sue Davidson and Ashley Barnett serving as tour guides.

The public TV travelogue show also focused on Horgan's true story of the Confederate ghost rider at Callaway Plantation. To get the history of the area, they interviewed local historian Skeet Willingham, Dr. Mark Waters, Horgan, and others.

Friday morning, the crew focused on the revival of the historic Fitzpatrick Hotel, interviewing new owner Guillaume Slama and showing the restored hotel in all its glory. The closing shot of the show, Zelski said, would be of him leaving the Fitzpatrick in the back of Slama's vintage Rolls-Royce with the innkeeper at the wheel.

Friday afternoon, the crew went to Callaway Plantation to re-enact Horgan's Confederate ghost story, complete with cannon firecourtesy of David Denard.

The show will be broadcast on Georgia Public Television the second Friday in October. "It's the second show of season two - the new season begins October 5. We'll begin with a coastal show, around Savannah, then the second show will be from Athens to Washington."

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