George Coulam, the 88-year-old founder of the Texas Renaissance Festival (TRF), passed away on May 21, 2025, in what authorities have confirmed as a suicide. His death sent shockwaves through the Texas arts community and left many fans of the TRF mourning the loss of the man who brought one of the state’s most beloved cultural events to life.
Coulam, known affectionately as “King George” by festival goers and performers alike, had built the Texas Renaissance Festival from a modest idea into a major cultural event that attracts over 500,000 visitors each year. The TRF, established in 1974 in Todd Mission, Texas, has become an iconic celebration of medieval and Renaissance-era history and culture, featuring elaborate costumes, performances, and jousting tournaments. What started as a small, weekend affair eventually grew into one of the largest Renaissance festivals in the United States, drawing visitors from across the globe.
Despite his immense success with the festival, Coulam’s final years were marred by personal and legal struggles. In the months leading up to his death, Coulam was embroiled in a contentious legal battle that involved a $60 million lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed in 2024, accused him and his company of breaching a sales contract with a group of investors, who claimed that Coulam failed to honor terms of the deal made in 2023.
The legal battle was a significant blow to Coulam’s reputation and business empire. The lawsuit not only sought financial compensation but also demanded that Coulam sell the Texas Renaissance Festival, which he had built with his own hands. The legal and financial pressures weighed heavily on the aging founder, who had already been battling health issues. In his final weeks, reports surfaced that Coulam was experiencing severe stress and anxiety over the outcome of the court case.
While details surrounding his death are still under investigation, Coulam’s passing has raised several questions about the impact of legal and personal pressures on aging business owners. Many in the Texas arts community have voiced concern about the toll that constant legal battles can take on an individual, especially someone who had dedicated their life to building something as grand as the Texas Renaissance Festival.
The festival, which is scheduled to take place later this year, has announced that it will honor Coulam’s legacy by carrying on with its full schedule of events. Many performers and festival goers are preparing to celebrate “King George’s” life by donning Renaissance garb, continuing the rich traditions that he established.
“George Coulam was more than just a businessman; he was a pioneer of Renaissance culture in Texas,” said Elizabeth Reed, a longtime performer at the festival. “His legacy will live on through every joust, every costume, and every laugh that happens on those grounds. He gave us a world where we could be ourselves, and that’s not something easily forgotten.”
Legal Battle and Its Consequences
The lawsuit that dominated the last years of Coulam’s life centered on a complex business arrangement in which Coulam allegedly promised to sell a controlling stake of the Texas Renaissance Festival to a group of investors. These investors claimed that Coulam did not fulfill the terms of the agreement, which included provisions for management and financial transparency.
Coulam’s defense rested on his assertion that the contract had been misunderstood and that his failure to meet certain requirements was not intentional. Still, as the case progressed, the pressure mounted. Financial records were subpoenaed, and there were accusations of mismanagement and deceit. The legal teams representing the investors argued that Coulam had attempted to hide valuable assets in order to avoid fulfilling his contractual obligations. This sparked a media frenzy, with headlines across Texas focusing on the growing scandal surrounding one of the state’s most cherished cultural events.
Despite his legal troubles, many of Coulam’s supporters defended his integrity, arguing that he was being unfairly targeted by opportunistic business partners. For decades, Coulam had been seen as a well-respected figure in the Texas cultural scene, and the sudden turn of events left many questioning the motivations of those involved in the lawsuit.
“The Texas Renaissance Festival was never about making huge profits for George; it was about celebrating the love of history and entertainment,” said Jennifer Larkin, a historian who worked with Coulam on various educational initiatives for the festival. “This legal case undermines everything that George worked so hard to create. To see it all end like this is heartbreaking.”
The Impact on the Texas Arts Community
Coulam’s passing is a significant loss not only to the Texas Renaissance Festival but also to the broader arts community in Texas. The TRF has become a hallmark of Texas culture, drawing in families, tourists, and performers from across the state and beyond. Beyond the festival itself, Coulam’s work inspired a new generation of artists and performers, many of whom went on to create their own events and businesses based on the model he set.
In the wake of his death, many are calling for a greater focus on mental health support for aging business owners, especially those in high-stress industries like entertainment. While it remains to be seen whether the legal battle contributed directly to Coulam’s suicide, experts believe that the pressures of maintaining such a large-scale event while managing legal and financial issues likely played a significant role in his emotional and psychological state.
In the months to come, the Texas Renaissance Festival will undoubtedly face new challenges as it moves forward without its visionary founder. The question now is whether the spirit of “King George” will continue to live on in the festival’s future or if his passing marks the end of an era for this iconic Texas institution.
