Latest news with #ToddMission
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Shocking twist in tiny Texas town dispute as 'viagra-gobbling tyrant king' is found DEAD
The sex-obsessed, self-declared 'king' of a tiny Texas town has been found dead at his sprawling $30 million estate. George Coulam, better known as 'King George,' founded the Texas Renaissance Festival in 1974 and fashioned it into a two-month-long extravaganza that takes place every year in Todd Mission, 50 miles northwest of Houston. Coulam died on May 21, two weeks after he lost a $60 million court battle and was ordered to sell up the iconic festival. Grimes County Sheriff Donald Sowell immediately stated that there were no signs of foul play and that there was no threat to the community. On Wednesday, it was revealed that the 87-year-old died by suicide, according to Grimes County Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Mark Laughlin. Coulam's death came shortly after a turbulent time in his life and a major setback in terms of his continued ability to run the festival that enjoyed its 50th anniversary last year. At least since last summer, Coulam has expressed a desire to retire from running the festival. An HBO documentary revealed this was because he wanted to have more time to focus on art, gardening and 'chasing p****'. Throughout the series, Coulam also talks about how much Viagra he takes and his desire to die with an erection. He even specified that he wanted to find 'a nice thin lady between 30 and 50 years old'. At some point, Coulam changed his mind because he decided not to relinquish control after all. The only problem was, he already agreed to sell all the faire's assets in 2023 to a group of investors. The investors — RW Lands, Texas Stargate, and Royal Campground — claimed that Coulam backed out after he received a down payment and closing costs from the trio. They said he ultimately failed to comply with the closing process, which was supposed to wrap up by August 8, 2023. They launched a $60 million lawsuit against the embattled king, who vigorously defended himself in court. The nearly two-year legal battle came to bitter end in early May, with a Grimes County judge ruling against Coulam and awarding ownership of the faire to the plaintiffs. Coulam was ordered to go through with the original deal, plus pay over $23 million in damages to the three companies who bought the faire. He was dealt yet another blow earlier this month, when he was defeated in a general election to be the mayor of Todd Mission by challenger Stephen Messing. Coulam had been the first and only mayor of Todd Mission, a town with just 121 people in it, since it was incorporated in 1982. Despite Coulam's tragic end and the lawsuit, the festival's organizers have pledged that the 2025 season will continue as planned. 'We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the death of George Coulam. Like everyone else who loves the Texas Renaissance Festival, we remain committed to ensuring that the festival lives on,' said Meril Rivard, president of Texas RF, Inc., in a statement. This year, it is scheduled to happen over eight weekends in October and November. Coulam will still loom large over the 2025 festival, as his mansion, Stargate Manor, still sits in the center of the 200 acres of land where the annual event takes place. The regal abode features a throne room, a gilt-adorned bedroom filled with 'regalia' and a custom, gold-plated golf cart. The grounds also feature a cathedral built for Coulam's personal use. The festival draws about half a million people each year to eat turkey, set up campsites and watch jousting competitions. It bills itself as the nation's largest Renaissance event and more, with a village filled with themed performances, foods, and displays. Coulam has previously expressed a desire to see his estate turned into a museum upon his death which will be open to the public.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Texas Renaissance Festival founder ‘King George' dies at Todd Mission home
The Brief Texas Renaissance Festival founder George "King George" Coulam has died at his home in Todd Mission, officials confirm. His cause of death is not known at this time. Coulam was the founder and longtime owner of the festival. He previously served as mayor of Todd Mission for more than 40 years. TODD MISSION, Texas - Texas Renaissance Festival founder George "King George" Coulam has died, authorities confirm. What we know According to the Todd Mission city manager, police were called to Coulam's home at about 9 a.m. on Wednesday. He was found deceased in his home. The cause of Coulam's death is under investigation by the Texas Rangers, Todd Mission Police, and the Grimes County Sheriff's Office. Officials say there is no suspected danger to the public. What we don't know Coulam's cause of death is not known at this time. Dig deeper Coulam is the founder and longtime owner of the Texas Renaissance Festival. He started the Texas Renaissance Festival in 1974, and it has grown into the largest of its kind in the United States. In addition to being the festival's leader, Coulam served as mayor of Todd Mission for more than four decades, but lost the most recent election on May 3. In 2024, the HBO docuseries "Ren Faire" focused on the festival's succession and Coulam's eventual retirement, highlighting the tension between his desire to find a romantic partner and his need to choose a successor. It also highlighted Coulam's strict leadership style. There have been ongoing legal disputes and potential sales of the festival, with a recent judge's order in early May mandating the sale of Coulam's properties, including the festival. What they're saying Niki Marshall is a former member of the performance company with the Texas Renaissance Festival. She says not all of her memories of George's leadership are positive, but the TRF community will keep the festival going. "The only thing that I could say for him is that he did hire some pretty cool people to be in that space," said Marshall. "He gave us the direction that we needed, and I got the opportunity to really make a difference. And it wasn't just for me, it was for the patrons that we performed for every day." Organizers of the Texas Renaissance Festival sent the following statement to FOX 26: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of George Coulam, founder of the Texas Renaissance Festival. For more than 50 years, he built a community that has become a cherished tradition for generations of performers, staff, and guests. At this time, we ask for respect and privacy for Mr. Coulam's family and the extended Texas Renaissance Festival family as they grieve. As this is a deeply personal matter, we are not offering additional comments at this time." Todd Mission City Manager Neal Wendele made the following statement: "Mr. Coulam, a visionary leader, founded the Texas Renaissance Festival in 1974, transforming a remote area into a cultural destination. His visionary leadership led to the incorporation of Todd Mission in 1982, where he served as the first and only mayor until May 8, 2025, shaping our community's unique identity. The City of Todd Mission offers its deepest condolences to Mr. Coulam's family and friends. We request privacy for those affected and will provide updates as appropriate." The Source The information in this article was gathered from sources, the Grimes County Sheriff's Office, and the Texas Renaissance Festival.
