Take a tour of hit novel’s fictional city of Golden, based on the real Columbus, GA
Local author Allen Levi used his hometown of Columbus, Georgia as inspiration for the fictional town of Golden in his best-selling novel, Theo of Golden.
The novel centers around a mysterious 86-year-old stranger, Theo, who moves to a small, Southern town. Theo makes it his mission to anonymously purchase 92 pencil portraits of the townspeople from a local coffee shop and hand-deliver them, profoundly touching lives along the way.
Levi’s self-published novel has sold more than 750,000 copies and hit number one on Amazon after being picked up by a Simon & Schuster imprint following its 2023 self-publication.
Whether Columbus is also your hometown and you want to visit the familiar spots, or you’re planning a visit to see the sites of the book, here’s a guide to all the stops you might recognize from Golden.
The Riverwalk
Walking to the river to greet the first evening star is Theo’s daily ritual and happens on a real stretch of the Dragonfly Trail.
- This is one of the nation’s most developed trail networks
- It connects to Eagle & Phenix Mill
- The staircase leading down toward Waveshaper Island has the best rapids views on the river
While you’re there, you can check out Columbus’ whitewater work, which is the world’s longest urban whitewater course.
Broadway (The Promenade)
In the book, the Promenade is Golden’s central avenue and the site of its most significant landmark. In the real Columbus, it’s Broadway.
- The corner of Broadway and 10th Street serve as the central point to the area
- Columbus is known as the Fountain City, and there are nearly a dozen fountains within a three-mile radius
- Any of the many fountains could’ve inspired the book’s fountain, “The Fedder”
Fountain City Coffee
Levi got the idea for the novel while standing in line at Fountain City Coffee, looking at the shop’s charcoal portraits.
- The shop displays 90-some portraits by local artist Garry Pound, who inspired the book’s artist character, Asher Visit
- Pound has about 90-something portraits on the walls, all for sale
The “Eye of God” Tree
In the novel, the “Eye of God” is a massive oak tree with an eye-shaped scar on its trunk located in the median of The Promenade. There is no direct analog on Broadway, but there are many beautiful trees with dark histories that could have been inspiration.
Levi addresses racism obliquely through the tree, which witnessed lynchings in Golden’s past, and has not flagged a specific tree in Columbus.
However, this region, stretching along the Chattahoochee River, is noted for its particularly severe history of racial violence, which historians rank second only to the Mississippi Delta.
Legacy Hall at the RiverCenter
Theo’s friend Simone, a cello student, performs his senior recital here in the book.
- RiverCenter for the Performing Arts is home to the School of Music where the character Simone studies
- Legacy Hall is the concert venue where Simone performs, and artists from across the globe travel to perform and compete there annually Visit Columbus, GA
Epic Restaurant
In the book, Theo hosts a fine-dining dinner catered by a restaurant owned by “Chef Bouchard.”
Epic Restaurant is the closest real match to that scene and Levi did surprise a group of readers and fans at a Chef’s Table event earlier this month and they were delighted.
Epic is the only Georgia AAA Four Diamond Award winner outside metro Atlanta and The Chef’s Table offers an intimate, multi-course culinary experience.
What spots did I miss? Where would you go on a Theo of Golden-based tour? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.