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A judge of the Grimes County decided on Wednesday, May 7th Texas Renaissance Festival Owner George Coulam must comply with an agreement that he completed in 2023 to sell the fair. It is not expected that the judgment and sale will influence the business in autumn on the business activities of the fair.

“Our commitment remains unchanged: a safe, lively and unforgettable experience for the hundreds of thousands of guests who visit every year,” says spokesman Tyler Moyer CultureMap in a written explanation. “Festival operations are forward for the 2025 season as planned.”

The case is based on business transactions that are shown in the HBO documents Ren faire. In the three episodes of the show, Coulam is negotiated with a party called “the Greeks”, but the deal fails. Coulam sued these parties, a group that includes RW Lands, Texas Stargate and Royal Campgrounds to force him to honor the contract.

Judge Gary W. Chaney made himself a brief judgment against Coulam with the plaintiffs. He not only has to comply with the original contract for the sale of the festival and adjacent properties for $ 60 million, he also has to pay 22 million US dollars in damages and $ 1 million in lawyers. Coulam did not comment on the judgment publicly, and at that time it is not known whether he wants to make the decision.

King Georges history

George Coulam has ruled the Texas Renaissance Festival in Todd Mission for more than half a century. It is not only the largest and one of the earliest incarnations of such festivals, but also the concept that its model is replicated all over the world. There is no doubt that Coulam was the Walt Disney of Renaissance events.

However, this long reign has associated with allegations of poor business transactions and sexual harassment. Several former employees have sued Coulam due to enemy working environment in connection with his behavior. In addition to the presentation of the sales negotiations, but also the sales negotiations Ren faire Unveiled the backstage policy in connection with Coulam’s business practices. The show dealt with the possibility of finally selling Coulam the festival for retirement, while he highlighted his wish to stay “king” with all the privileges that bring with it.

Former artist reacts

When Coulam’s management of the festival became increasingly moody, many long -time employees and visitors listened to the fair. Until 2019, Niki Korontona was an employee when she decided to go, partly because of her health and partly because of the toxic environment. She says that when Coulam is really outside, she could see return.

“If the sale goes through, as he says, I will go back,” she said in a Facebook message. “While my time was her own B with the performance company —– when the new owners I heard, it will be in … I don’t know … less poisonous hands?”

Only a few Renaissance festivals survive a change in property, but it is not unknown. In fact, Coulam was part of one of the larger ones. Before he started the Renaissance Festival in Texas in 1974, he founded the Minnesota Renaissance Festival in 1971. The investor of this company, lawyer Jules Smith Sr., then sold his shares and opened a new festival in Maryland in 1977. Nowadays The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is one of the main.

This took a long time for the institutions to be cemented in their current forms, which was worth the tens of million dollars. Nevertheless, Korontana says that a change in management that is not successful with what works.

“(It is) an iron business.” she said. “Even recessions have not broken it. It is so commercial that it doesn’t matter who belongs, as long as tickets are not too expensive and the turkey legs exist.”