Medieval Times
North Fulton Times
By May Smith
My daughter finally talked me into going to Medieval Times at Discover Mills Mall. Friends had told me how great it was, but I was afraid I would be disappointed. I've raised and trained horses. I'm a history buff. I expected to be underwhelmed. I WAS WRONG. If you haven't gone yet, take my advice and treat yourself to a taste of history, a good hot meal you eat with your fingers, first class horsemanship, costumes, stunts, and historical accuracy that will WOW you.
You gotta love how the Castle looks as you drive up. But the really special stuff is inside, and it's not just the show. It's the feeling you get as you are transported to another place and time. This is entertainment at its best. The fictional story is a historically correct portrayal of how fighting and gaming was done in Medeival Europe. The fighting, jousting, falls, and games are realistic. The horses fight, compete in the games, dance, leap, kicking in the air, walk on their hind legs, rear, bow, and steal the show! You are served a meal served in true Middle Ages style, with just a plate and cup. You find yourself cheering for your very own champion, hoping he becomes the King's new champion!
The Royal Abode: Guests are welcomed to the outer arena and crowned with different colors. This organizes them into groups so that they can cheer for their own champion. We found ourselves entertained by all kinds of interesting things, and souvenirs were available, as were pictures in costume with the Princess and as a group. The décor makes you feel you have stepped back in time, getting you in the mood for the adventure to come.
The Royal Fare: On the day we went, the arena was almost sold out ( it seats 1100 people ) yet my food was still hot and very tasty. It was served by a "wench" dressed in period costume, lovely, yet strong enough to carry the huge platter of chicken halves, pot of soup, and four pitchers. The meal consisted of half a chicken, soup, bread and tasty apple strudel, and was more than any of the 5 in my party could eat. Vegetarian meals are available on request.
The Royal Knights: Incredibly athletic, they fall off horses on the run, sword fight, joust, compete in realistic Middle Ages games, all the while looking great ( ladies they are EASY on the eyes! ). These young men are hired and trained especially for this work. They duplicate the process real knights used, literally training "from the ground up". First they learn the work of "Squires", handling the weapons. Then they are trained to ride, fall, do the stunts required, fight, etc. Most have no riding experience when they are hired, another amazing fact especially since often as you watch them gently guiding the horses through their moves, you can hardly even see their signals. The company trains them intensively, not just because of what is needed for the show, but for safety reasons. They usually start with short hair and by the time their training is complete enough to be a knight, their hair is shoulder length.
The Gallant Steeds: These amazing animals are bred and raised at the company ranch in Texas, the largest breeder of Andalusians in the USA. The company has many locations, and they need a lot of horses. They start "from the ground up" with the horses as well, breeding, raising and training them for their specific needs.
Camp Application
Map and Directions to Camp
