Travelling back in time to the Middles Ages is possible.
Good Knights Entertainment started as a retirement project for Daniel and Linda Smith. After years of attending medieval festivals they decided to develop their own site on the Prairies with specially designed tents, big feasts and entertainment from the days when knights were gallant and maidens were fair.
“We have been into medieval stuff for years and fell in love with all things medieval,” said Daniel.
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Added Linda: “We decided they should come to us.”
Built on a former pasture near Three Hills, Alta., the site opened in June 2017 with camping open from May to September.
“The medieval world starts at the gate and people get immersed,” said Daniel.
The idea for a full camping experience was sparked when they decided to host a medieval feast on their 20 acres in the country. What started as an invitation to a few friends turned into 100 guests.
While the theme is based on the Middle Ages, the concept is built around the new form of entertainment called glamping. This is luxury camping with modern facilities.
While the Smiths have tried to build a site that is authentic as possible, the seven historical tents offer comfortable beds, heating and electricity.
“Because people are paying a good price for this, we want them to be comfortable and have a good stay,” he said.
Visitors can select from about 250 costumes fashioned after medieval garb, sleep in roomy tents modelled after that era and feast in a long hall that was once a hay barn.
Archery lessons, embroidery, leather working and fighting with broad swords, as well as a big campfire in the evening are among other activities. There are lutists, jousters and jesters on site, and whenever possible the Smiths take the time to teach medieval history.
Dressed in medieval garb, Linda teaches archery with basic English long bows so children can also participate. Daniel is a full level contact sword fighter and teaches the skill using three and a half pound broadswords. Children learn with wooden swords.
“The kids love it because they are playing with their new best friends and the parents love it because they are unplugged for the weekend,” he said.
The next project is a 650 sq. foot burrow, similar to a hobbit home described in the fantasy series Lord of the Rings.
The medieval style feast offers plenty of meats and vegetables commonly eaten 700 years ago. Linda plans and cooks the meal and buys as much locally produced food as possible.
She also taught herself to make bread from the internet because she needed big round artisan loaves that were not readily available anywhere else. She also learned to cook in volume to make sure everyone is well fed.
Different theme weekends like Dungeons and Dragons, Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones have been offered. Their latest theme is creating a medieval murder mystery weekend.
“People don’t want to sit back and be entertained. They want to be involved,” Daniel said.
When they decided to build the camp they had to get five acres rezoned for commercial purposes, as well as get a development permit from Kneehill County.
“The county is all about agriculture so they don’t get tourism that much. We are one of their main tourism destinations,” he said.
Word of mouth advertising, social media, positive tourism reviews and Travel Alberta have contributed to their unexpected success. They also participated in Alberta Agriculture’s open farm days to show what they have to offer in the country.
The gates are open from May to September and besides regular tourists, school and youth groups have camped there. Weddings and graduation parties also made the guest list.
“In the last three years we have doubled our numbers every year. When we open in May we anticipate we will be sold out,” he said.
“This year we broke even. We are raising our prices and next year we are going to be more busy. It has been a labour of love and what makes it all worthwhile is our guests love what we are doing.”
