Medieval Times facts for kids
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Medieval Times building exterior in Lyndhurst, New Jersey
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| Private | |
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | December 20, 1983 in Kissimmee, Florida, US |
| Headquarters |
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U.S.
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Number of locations
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10 |
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Area served
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United States and Canada |
| Services | Dinner theater |
Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament is a super fun dinner theater show. It's like stepping back into the Middle Ages! You get to watch exciting medieval-style games, thrilling sword-fighting, and amazing jousting tournaments. The main office for Medieval Times Entertainment is in Irving, Texas.
There are ten Medieval Times locations. Nine of them in the United States look like real 11th-century castles. The tenth one, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is inside a special building called the CNE Government Building.
Contents
A Journey Through Time: Medieval Times History
The idea for Medieval Times shows started in Spain in the late 1960s. A man named Jose Montaner created the first shows in Majorca and Benidorm. He turned his family's farm into a place where people could eat and watch entertainment. Actors would pretend to be 11th-century knights. They would joust, telling stories inspired by Montaner's own family history. He even says he is related to the famous Charlemagne!
In 1983, a Spanish company called Manver opened the first Medieval Times in the United States. It was in Orlando, Florida, very close to Disney World. This was a big step for the company. Three years later, in 1986, they opened another location near Knott's Berry Farm in California. After that, more castles opened in big cities across the Southern United States and other places. These included Atlanta, Georgia; Dallas, Texas; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Baltimore, Maryland; Schaumburg, Illinois; Lyndhurst, New Jersey; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Toronto, Ontario.
Sometimes, companies face challenges. In 1997, the Medieval Times locations in Florida and California had some financial difficulties. They worked through these issues to keep the shows going.
The shows at Medieval Times change every few years to keep things fresh and exciting. In late 2017, a brand new show started. For the first time in 34 years, the main role was played by a Queen instead of a King! This change happened because guests wanted to see more women in important roles. It took two months to teach the Queen how to ride an amazing Andalusian horse.
Employees at some Medieval Times locations have worked together to improve their work environment. For example, in 2022, employees in New Jersey and Buena Park, California, voted to join a group called the American Guild of Variety Artists. This group helps them talk to the company about things like pay and safety.
Jose Montaner's son, Perico Montaner, is now the President and CEO of Medieval Times. The company's main office is still in Irving, Texas. Since it first opened, Medieval Times has entertained over 65 million guests! That's a lot of people who have enjoyed a trip back to the Middle Ages!
Where to Find a Castle
You can find Medieval Times castles in these locations:
United States Castles
- Orlando Castle (opened 1983, in Kissimmee, Florida)
- Buena Park Castle (opened 1986, in Buena Park, California)
- Lyndhurst Castle (opened 1990, in Lyndhurst, New Jersey)
- Chicago Castle (opened 1991, in Schaumburg, Illinois)
- Dallas Castle (opened 1992, in Dallas, Texas)
- Myrtle Beach Castle (opened 1995, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina)
- Baltimore Castle (opened 2003, in Hanover, Maryland)
- Atlanta Castle (opened 2006, in Lawrenceville, Georgia)
- Scottsdale Castle (opened 2019, in Scottsdale, Arizona)
Canadian Castle
See also
