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4mo ago

Texas Renaissance Festival Founder George Coulam Found Dead at 87

Coulam’s passing comes weeks after a court-ordered sale of the festival he founded in 1974, with authorities investigating the cause of death.

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'King' George Coulam at the entry gates to his home in Todd Mission, pop. 275, on Sept. 7, 1999. Coulam was the mayor of the town he incorporated. Coulam was founder of the Texas Renaissance Festival, which sits across FM 1774 from his home.
George Coulam, founder of the Texas Renaissance Festival, is shown at his home Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Todd Mission.

Overview

  • George Coulam, founder of the Texas Renaissance Festival and longtime mayor of Todd Mission, was found dead in his home on May 21, 2025, at the age of 87.
  • The Texas Rangers and Grimes County Sheriff’s Office are leading an ongoing investigation into the cause of death, which remains undetermined.
  • Earlier this month, a Grimes County judge ordered Coulam to sell the festival and awarded $23 million in damages and legal fees to plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit over a failed $60 million sale.
  • The Texas Renaissance Festival, founded by Coulam in 1974, has grown into the largest event of its kind in the United States, attracting over 500,000 visitors annually.
  • Festival organizers have confirmed that the 2025 season will proceed as planned, continuing the event’s cultural and economic legacy.