From Houston Public Media:
George Coulam, the owner and founder of the Texas Renaissance Festival, was found dead Wednesday morning in his home, according to Grimes County Sheriff Donald G. Sowell.
“He was found deceased this morning by a housekeeper [who] called law enforcement,” Sowell told Houston Public Media. “Todd Mission police are investigating it.”
Coulam, 87, the former mayor of Todd Mission, was known among festival goers as “King George.” He was mayor of Todd Mission for over 40 years and only recently lost reelection on May 3.
His death comes two weeks after a Grimes County judge ordered Coulam to sell the festival and its assets after siding with a group of prospective buyers who sued after a $60 million deal fell through in 2023.
The Texas Renaissance Festival, which celebrates the artistic and architectural movement that emerged in Europe after the Middle Ages, is an annual fall event that’s been held for more than 50 years in a small town about 55 miles northwest of Houston. It was the subject of a 2024 documentary series called “Ren Faire” that streamed on Max.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of George Coulam, founder of the Texas Renaissance Festival,” festival officials said in a statement. “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.”
Sowell said the sheriff’s office and the Grimes County District Attorney are assisting in the investigation into Coulam’s death.
The City of Todd Mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This is a developing story.
