10 Creepy Photos From Virginia’s Abandoned Renaissance Faire
By Anna Strock|Published January 14, 2016
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Anna Strock
Author
Virginia staff writer for Only in Your State, freelance writer and journalist. Even though Anna has lived other places, somehow Virginia is where she always seems to land.
On a small parcel of forested land just outside of Fredericksburg, stands…or leans, rather…the remains of what was, once, a festive gathering ground for knights, ladies and bards. Or as the website Atlas Obscura states, a site that exists as a reminder of “a failed attempt at medieval nerdery.”
We are, of course, referring to the decaying ruins of the Virginia Renaissance Faire that operated at this location for but a few short seasons.
The following images were captured at the abandoned site (with permission) and show the ethereal, yet ruinous decay of time.
1. The Renaissance Faire's abandoned building remain as relics of festivities long past.
Complete with thatched roofs, period architecture and even a few buildings on stilts, the Renaissance Entertainment Corporation valiantly fought the forces of modernity in an attempt to bring the jovial spirit and lively festivities of merrie olde England to life with a replica medieval village where faithful Renaissance re-enactors and enthusiasts could live out their fantasies.
2. Empty windows of abandoned buildings stare back vacantly.
Unfortunately, this elaborate faire site was only open from 1996 until 1999. Two season of bad weather, swampy grounds and Virginia’s very own flying dragons (i.e., mosquitos) led to poor ticket sales, ultimately thwarting this Renaissance Faire’s fairy tale existence.
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3. Now, nature is reclaiming these once beautiful medieval (re)creations.
Fifteen years after the gates closed for the final time, many of the props and archaic accoutrement went on to a similar site in Wisconsin, but these buildings have been left to ease slowly back into nature.
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4. Yet, somehow, even in an abandoned state, the faire has a creepy appeal.
While it’s sad to see a place like this fade into the mist, its eerie emptiness is irresistible.
5. Broken windows provide a glimpse of what once was.
Despite the rotting wood and broken windows, the abandoned faire still conjures up images of a once bustling village filled with laughter, lutes and, possibly, the sound of festival goers slapping at mosquitos.
Even this ship, left to sink slowly into the moat (ok, it’s a pond, but a moat would have been MUCH cooler), leaves you with a haunting sense of magic.
7. And other buildings, while fallen into decay, retain a more ethereal feel.
Even with the evidence of modern trespassing, such as graffiti sprayed on the sides of buildings, the faire holds a sense of the old world that can't seem to be erased - even with ruinous effects of time.
8. It's hard not to wonder what will become of a site filled with so much intrigue.
Reports say that the land is for sale, and although its swampy location makes it less than ideal, perhaps one day soon we will see life return to this abandoned patch of Virginia forest.
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9. Fortunately, while this faire sits empty, the spirit of the Renaissance lives on in Virginia.
Despite this site’s early demise, The Virginia Renaissance Faire began operations at Lake Anna Winery in 2004 and have seen much greater success there than at their Fredericksburg-ian "Camelot."
10. In the meantime, trespassers be warned. This site is strictly off limits.
As word of warning to you brave knights determined to forge into the forest armed with your faithful digital camera, the site is privately owned and trespassing is strictly prohibited – except to the hunters who lease the land. So unless your chain mail is bulletproof, it’s best to let these images transport you to days gone by rather than risk a photo quest yourself.
While you may not be able to visit the site for yourself, you can have a more interactive look. The video below shows captivating footage taken by a drone.
Sites like the abandoned Renaissance Faire leave us with a sense of nostalgia – and even longing. One can’t help but wonder what it was like when life still reverberated through the streets. And so, we would love to hear from you. Did you attend the faire while it was in Fredericksburg? Have you been to the new site at Lake Anna? Let us know about your experience in the comments below!
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