Inside wild Texas town ruled by ‘creepy’ Viagra-gobbling tyrant King George, 86, as backstabbing rivals battle for the crown so he can retire and ‘die hard’
A little Texas city that hosts the largest Renaissance festival in the US has subsequently been put in the spotlight a new series charted the wild power struggle between the sex-obsessed ‘king’ and his rivals.
About half a million festival-goers flock to the theme park-style event in the town of Todd Mission each year over eight weekends from November to January.
Located 50 miles outside of Houston, approximately 130 residents who work at the festival live there year-round and are governed by founder George Coulam – better known to thousands as ‘King George’.
But like the new hit HBO series ‘Ren Faire’ regales, the king, 86, now wants to retire so he can concentrate on art, gardening and ‘chasing p****’ – leading to a fierce battle for the crown he has held for 50 years wears.
George Coulam, known to thousands as King George, has ruled the Texas Renaissance Festival for fifty years
His kingdom – the Town of Todd Mission in central Texas – can be seen here and has been home to the two-month annual event for 50 years
‘[Coulam] functional… is basically a king,” series creator Lance Oppenheim recently shared Variety. “He created a real fiefdom.”
Coulam began his effort to incorporate the piece of wooded property about 42 years ago founding the Texas Renaissance Festival in 1974.
In 1982 he succeeded in expanding the fair and its influence in the process.
That same year he was elected mayorand employs its own police force.
Today his mansion, Stargate Manor, sits on 200 acres of land in the center of the village – while his creation draws around half a million people every year to eat turkey legs and set up campsites.
It bills itself as the country’s largest Renaissance event and more, with a village full of themed performances, food and displays.
Now Oppenheim’s three-part drama follows his quest to capitalize on the medieval monopoly.
His tyrannical rule and resulting battle for the crown has led many to compare the series to ‘Succession’, Game of Thrones and even Willy Wonka, as Coulam sifts through a select number of flamboyant collaborators to take on the fantastic festival .
Among them was the faire’s general manager, Jeffery Baldwin – or the self-proclaimed “Head Oompa Loompa” of Coulman’s Wonka.
Red Bull-swilling Louie Migliaccio, the festival’s so-called ‘Lord of Corn’, was also considered – after years of serving hot and fresh kettle corn for attendees.
The HBO show captures the King Lear-like dynamic between Coulam and his candidates, including faire general manager Jeffery Baldwin (left) and “Lord of Corn” Louie Migliaccio
Coulam began his push to integrate the swath of wooded land about 42 years ago, after founding the Texas Renaissance Festival in 1974.
His tyrannical rule and subsequent battle for the crown have led many to compare the series to ‘Succession’, Game of Thrones and even Willy Wonka, as Coulam sifts through a select number of flamboyant employees to take on the fantastic festival.
However, the group failed to convince Coulam by the show’s conclusion – and the saga continues to this day.
“The challenge of filming with him was: how can we match the ferocity of the way he moves?” he told Vanity fair this week.
“Especially when my cameraman, Nate Hurtsellers, is operating a 50-pound camera in 100-degree weather.”
The millionaire king’s love life is also prominently featured in the show, as he searches for a ‘companion’.
One of his employees even created a spreadsheet to keep tabs on potential love interests after signing up to a whopping 15 dating sites — including those reserved for Sugar Daddies.
He also talks throughout the show in detail about how much testosterone and Viagra he takes and his desire to die with an erection – or better yet ‘scr**** to death’.
These scenes have led some viewers to call the king “creepy” and “gross.”
Coulam has said that his search for companionship is looking for a specific type: “a nice thin lady between 30 and 50 years old.”
Oppenheim recalled to Variety: “The first thing he said to me was, ‘I used to play the king, but now I’m a horny old man. I want to find someone to take care of the festival.’ These were the things that just flowed out of him.”
“He may have been looking for an outlet, someone he has no control over,” the director continued.
“He doesn’t have any friends he doesn’t employ.”
His creation continues to draw about half a million people each year to eat turkey legs and set up campsites
It bills itself as the country’s largest Renaissance event and more, with a village full of themed performances, food and displays
Scenes have led some viewers to call the king ‘creepy’ and ‘gross’ due to his desire to procreate. He is seen outside his mansion in 2019, which he plans to turn into a museum
Some of the king’s considered successors spoke to Vanity Fair this week, including chief executive Darla Smith – a former elephant trainer
“Most fairs are kind of crazy,” she told the magazine of the fair’s growth over the years into a de facto fiefdom.
“But honestly, George has the biggest carnival – and he has the biggest craziness.”
In the show she talks about how Coulam ‘molded her into the assistant he needed’ – to the point where she will always be by his side.
From 2014 to 2022, she served in the role of assistant director before transitioning to assistant general manager.
General manager Baldwin, meanwhile, has been a performer at the historic event for the past 17 years and entertainment director for the “last quarter century,” he said on the show.
Migaliaccio, however, has aspirations for change and proposes the addition of EDM festivals, a university and new and immersive technology to “enhance the [the faire’s] game.’
“It seems like capitalism has a negative connotation these days,” he said of the idea of a more laissez-faire, well, faire. “But I don’t see the negativity in it, I see the beauty in it.”
For now, Coulam remains president of his unconventional kingdom. Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
But for now, Coulam remains president of his unconventional kingdom.
And despite the prediction that he will die at the age of 95, there is little doubt that he will last until then. Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
