comments and critiques of third year sought

[PollyPoPo]

Suggestions:

A pathway from Camping to the front gate. ( I really do want to see the gates open wide from that side at least once.    )

We just drive around from campgrounds to the parking lot for opening, then sometime during the day, drive back to camp.  And, yes, Lady Jessica, you should see opening at front gate; the entertainment starts there before cannon.

[PollyPoPo]

I kept seeing the Whoop Stop sign, but never actually saw the Whoop Stop.  Where the heck was it on 21?

If you are on 21, don't turn onto the big highway, just go past the entrance about 1/2 mile and it's on the left.  Last year we, too, were curious and just drove that way to see where it was.

[RenStarr]

I appreciate some of the things that are NOT in Sherwood:

>  No bungie jumping what ever you call it.  Those are pretty much a "kids only/mundane" attraction that is annoying. 
>  No rock climbing tower.

I like that so much of what resides in Sherwood is as period as can be.


Items for consideration:

>  Path/road from main parking lot to camp ground (already on the to-do list).
>  Expand the size (more lanes) of the front gate (already suggested).
>  Additional entrance to the main parking lot from Old Hwy 20.  I can see a time when only one way in/out could become a log-jam.
>  More benches/picnic tables in the forest area that is in the seven sisters vicinity.  Places to sit, chat, sip, chew, etc.......
>  At some point in time, a pavillon in the camp ground area would be nice.  I know the clans like to hang together in the evenings, but something similar to the Jersalem Pub (without an sales booth) would be a cool place for multiple persons/clans to come together in the evenings.  Maybe that could be a future project where different clan members could donate labor in the building phase.

[Fenster]

Paved or improved parking.  Not for the cars, but for those that make frequent trips to their vehicles.  It was quite a hike over very rough (huge rocks) terrain.

Slightly improved paths inside.

[mpullen]

Teach, thanks for the reminder of one thing: the big beautiful sign would be better placed at the main property entrance rather than the campground entrance, or another big sign.  I knew where the entrance was, but some friends meeting us there did not see the entrance.

The problem is, the Faire owns the land where the two billboards are located. The Faire doesn't own the land along Old Potato Road. The Faire would have to lease the land in order to move the billboards there. In addition, at the present location, we can setup a generator to power the illumination at night. I think a generator setup along Old Potato Road would disappear quickly.

[Merlin the Elder]

That does pose somewhat of a dilemma, doesn't it. Maybe I should buy the land, build a house, and in exchange for season passes for Nim and I each year, I could grant you an easement for your sign.   I wish it were that simple...

I appreciate some of the things that are NOT in Sherwood:

>  No bungie jumping what ever you call it.  Those are pretty much a "kids only/mundane" attraction that is annoying. 
>  No rock climbing tower.

And NO bird-faced dude ringing bells to loud canned music!   

[*Teach*]

But I like the bird-faced dude.

*Especially after a bit of rum*

[Merlin the Elder]

I know, Teach...I'm in a minority. It's just that he belongs in the county fair, not a Renaissance faire.

[Stalkwell]

Hey now... Bird Faced Dude can't be knocked     He as an awesome CD cover or two by the good Lady Stalkwell!

Seriously, not much to comment on.  There are too many good aspecs of Sherwood to list... that's an excellent thing.  As for the improvements, I'll put the wife to work on that... she's good at details. 


Stalk well... and listen to more bells 

[angusmacinnes]

I happen to like the birdman a great deal.  In fact he is what kept us coming back to faire for some years, then it became more than that and now I am an addict.  Plus if not for him I would never met such fine folk as you and Nim, Merlin.  Nor would I have met so many fine people that I now call friends.  So go easy on the birdguy.  Besides I like the bells.    But it is also nice to attend a faire now and again where he isnt.  Just sayin'.

[Zardoz]

Aww...I like the bell ringing bird guy at TRF...... Gives me something to do between Circa Paleo shows  

BTW ! I heard a nice radio spot for the faire this morning in Houston.

[Merlin the Elder]

I know, ... ...I'm in a minority. It's just that he belongs in the county fair, not a Renaissance faire.

It's not him—I actually like the concept—, it's the setting.  now, enough of the thread hijacking...

I've been racking my brains trying to come up with problems that need solving (besides any that may be listed here) and I can't think of any. The worst issue I had last year, the super-soft dusty paths, were apparently corrected during the week between opening and the second weekend last year.

Regarding being the third year: the oldest faire that we attended last year was in its 35th year. From all indications, its cast was tiny compared to Sherwood Forest. When we step into SWFF, we feel like we're entering a different world. There are creatures in the trees, or skulking about. No other faire that I've been to has the fae/fantasy creatures in such abundance. It turns off the outside world for me.

We were only there for one weekend last year, yet I had vendors recognize me and greet me like a long-lost cousin. Having George and RenGypsy greet me personally...well, it really made me feel like I was someone special.

Whatever blemishes Sherwood Forest has, they are lost in the glare of the beauty and atmosphere of a wondrous place...

[Snylor]

 I agree that there needs to be more gathering/resting type spots with larger amounts of tables. I hate to compare to TRF, but a place or two like Sea Devil would be nice.
Walking up that hill to go to The Trip is rough enough, but then the layout and seating is not conducive for having lots of people gather together.

At least build something down by the joust that will accommodate a large group of folks with a bar close by that sells waters and cokes along with beer and mead. One needs only look at The Sea Devil to see what a busy and profitable place it is.

My only other suggestion(which comes too late for many of us) is to NOT add more clan camping right on top of existing clan camping. After being told we had to move our original spot, only to find out it was given to others after much work, we deliberately went to the very end of what we were told would be the camping area and cleared the land and built our camp. Two (2) days before Sherwood's grand opening a bulldozer was brought in and cleared all the land around us, subsequently destroying all our privacy. And not just close, but directly abutting our area.
After that, more  space was dedicated to new clans directly across the street from us. Now we not only have no privacy, we have new upstart clans full of raver type kids that insist on blaring their music very loudly ALL night long.

[LadyStitch]

The only thing that we think could use a monor tweak is that when we came in at 9 AM opening day there were few cars and we honestly thought we were at the staff entrance, so we kept going.  Turns out that was the main entrance.  There wasn't anyone along the road motioning that this was the main gate.   Not sure quite  what to say other than maybe a sign that that says, "Main parking" or something along those lines.  Being new to the faire we weren't sure where we were going.

This is a pet peeve that I have with a lot of places, and I don't think we had this problem at Sherwoood but I always like to put it out there.  Make sure that their are diaper changing places in the bathrooms.  I don't want to change my child on a cold cement floor.  Also if you have them don't just have them in the women's.  Too many times the PP has been out with the fuzzlet and has had a hard time finding a place to change our daughter because the place we are at does not offer a changing spot in the men's bathroom.  Some offer a family room, but so many times young punks have taken to using those as their own private party places he can't get in those easily.  Not a thing on Sherwood, but a general to anyplace we go.

[PollyPoPo]

The only thing that we think could use a monor tweak is that when we came in at 9 AM opening day ...  Turns out that was the main entrance... we weren't sure where we were going. 

Teach, thanks for the reminder of one thing: the big beautiful sign would be better placed at the main property entrance rather than the campground entrance, or another big sign.  I knew where the entrance was, but some friends meeting us there did not see the entrance.

The problem is, the Faire owns the land ...

Both these postings might be referring to the actual Faire parking lot entrance, not Old Potato Road.  It is kind of bare looking, especially for first timers.  There is a flagger for parking, way down the lane, but I really don't recall the signage at the parking lot entrance from the street.  I think there was something, maybe a white sign with black words.  Maybe a period pavilion type tent placed at the entrance could catch people's attention.