EATONTON, Ga. -- More than 20 years ago, it was the used as part of the set for the famous movie 'My Cousin Vinny'.
Now the new owners of the General Putnam Motel in Eatonton are trying to recover from a fire.
Eatonton Fire Chief Eugene Hubert tells 11Alive they received a call around 1:30 p.m. Sunday about the fire. Putnam County firefighters also assisted with putting out the flames.They were able to get things under control by 5:30 p.m.
Investigators believe the flames might have been sparked by an electrical malfunction. A representative from the State Fire Marshal's Office came to the scene Monday. They tell us the fire was accidental and started in the attic. Four motel rooms and a laundry room were heavily damaged.
A family member of the new owner, Jasbir Virk, said the motel has been closed for years, but they were in the process of renovating.
"I had a plan and everything," said Virk. " Architect made it and I had a plan I submitted to the city also."
As a sheriff's deputy in the 1990s, Diane Veal worked security on the set at the motel and restaurant.
"I knew every place, all the back roads at the end of the end of the movie when they were leaving, I guess they were going back to New York they were actually on 142 heading back to Putnam County," she said.
The movie, starring Joe Pesci, Ralph Macchio, Marisa Tomei and others, is about two New Yorkers who are accused of a murder while on their way back to college. One of their cousins comes to town to defend them. According to IMdB, the film was released in 1992.
"It was a good location, easy to get to, right at the interstate," Veal said.
The new motel owners bought the property in April and have already spent $50,000 to $60,000 on renovations. Their goal was to reopen it and bring it back to life, just how it appeared when 'My Cousin Vinny' was filmed there.
"I hope I can do that because this is a historic motel," Virk said.
Now they are working with the insurance company to see what can be done. The fire is still under investigation.
