A Grimes County judge has ordered the Texas Renaissance Festival to be sold and awarded over $23 million in damages, ending a two-year legal battle over the iconic event.
On Wednesday, a Grimes County judge ruled that the Texas Renaissance Festival, recognized as one of the country's most significant and most cherished Renaissance-themed events, must be sold, concluding a two-year legal battle regarding the festival's ownership.
In a significant ruling, District Judge Gary W. Chaney of the 506th state District Court has ordered the sale, concluding several days of testimony in the civil case. Furthermore, festival founder George Coulam and his company must pay more than $23 million in damages to compensate for the losses incurred by buyers during the halted sale, including attorney's fees.
The legal conflict originated in April 2023, when RW Lands Inc. initiated a lawsuit against Coulam and associated entities, alleging their failure to supply essential documents and their last-minute withdrawal from a $60 million sale agreement.
Court documents indicate that the agreement was scheduled to finalize on April 8, 2023, but reportedly collapsed when Coulam allegedly declined to move forward.
Coulam has refuted the allegations, asserting that both parties were unprepared to finalize the agreement and that the contract necessitated amendments for better clarity. This week, the court ruled in favor of the buyers, despite the defenses presented.
Officials of the festival have issued a statement affirming that the annual event will proceed as scheduled. "We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a safe, vibrant, and memorable experience for the hundreds of thousands of guests who visit each year," the statement indicated.
Established in 1974, the festival has evolved into a significant attraction in Texas, attracting over 500,000 visitors yearly to Todd Mission, located north of Houston.
