A Grimes County decide dominated on Wednesday, Might 7 that Texas Renaissance Competition proprietor George Coulam should honor an settlement he made in 2023 to promote the honest. The judgement and sale, if upheld, will not be anticipated to have an effect on the honest’s operations within the fall.
“Our dedication stays unchanged: to ship a secure, vibrant, and memorable expertise for the tons of of 1000’s of visitors who go to annually,” spokesperson Tyler Moyer tells CultureMap in a written assertion. “Competition operations are transferring ahead as deliberate for the 2025 season.”
The case stems from enterprise dealings depicted within the HBO docuseries Ren Faire. Over the present’s three episodes, Coulam is proven partaking in negotiations with a celebration known as “The Greeks,” however the deal falls via. These events, a gaggle that features RW Lands, Texas Stargate, and Royal Campgrounds, sued Coulam to compel him to honor the contract.
Decide Gary W. Chaney sided with the plaintiffs in a quick judgment towards Coulam. Not solely is he ordered to abide by the unique contract to promote the pageant grounds and adjoining properties for $60 million, he has to pay $22 million in damages in addition to $1 million in lawyer charges. Coulam has not commented publicly in regards to the ruling, and it isn’t identified presently whether or not he plans to attraction the choice.
King George’s Historical past
For greater than half a century, George Coulam has reigned as king of the Texas Renaissance Competition in Todd Mission. Not solely is it the biggest and one of many earliest incarnations of such festivals, it codified the idea to such a level that its mannequin is replicated all around the world. There is no such thing as a doubt that Coulam has been the Walt Disney of renaissance occasions.
Nonetheless, that lengthy reign has include accusations of unhealthy enterprise dealings and sexual harassment. A number of former workers have sued Coulam for hostile work surroundings associated to his conduct. Along with depicting the sale negotiations, Ren Faire uncovered the backstage politics surrounding Coulam’s enterprise practices. The present handled the potential for Coulam lastly promoting the pageant to retire, whereas additionally highlighting his want to stay “king,” with all of the privileges that entails.
Former performer reacts
As Coulam’s administration of the pageant grew more and more capricious, many longtime workers and guests stopped associating with the honest. Niki Korontona was an worker till 2019 when she determined to depart, partially due to her well being and partially due to the poisonous surroundings. She says that if Coulam is really out, she might see returning.
“If the sale goes via because it says it’ll, I am going to return,” she stated in a Fb message. “Whereas my time with the efficiency firm was its personal b—-, if the brand new house owners are who I’ve heard, it will likely be going into… I do not know… much less poisonous palms?”
Few renaissance festivals survive a change of possession, however it’s not extraordinary. In truth, Coulam was part of one of many larger ones. Earlier than beginning the Texas Renaissance Competition in 1974, he based the Minnesota Renaissance Competition in 1971. The investor of that enterprise, lawyer Jules Smith Sr., then bought his shares and opened a brand new pageant in Maryland in 1977. Lately, the Minnesota Renaissance Competition is certainly one of Texas’s predominant rivals.
That was lengthy earlier than the establishments had been cemented into their present kinds, price tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars}. Nonetheless, Korontana says {that a} change in administration that does not mess with what works ought to succeed.
“[It’s] an ironclad enterprise.” she stated. “Even recessions did not break it. It is so business that it does not matter who owns it so long as tickets aren’t too costly and turkey legs exist.”
