Thanks to help from a California-based Christian broadcasting empire, a Christian theme park in Orlando, Fla., seems to have boosted its popularity.
Ever since Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) acquired The Holy Land Experience in June, attendance figures jumped at least 25 percent, according to Melanie Davies, public relations manager for the park.
“That 25 percent figure is for June and July,” she said. “For August, it was 76 percent.”
The Holy Land Experience opened in 2001. Now, with TBN frequently mentioning the park during it’s evening programming, and also with the usual high summertime attendence numbers, the attraction is fighting its way back to become another leading tourist stop in Orlando.
TBN and park officials call the recent deal a “marriage,” rather than a business takeover.
“For us, it was a natural synergy. They were looking for more publicity and we (TBN) were looking to acquire land and buildings in the area,” explained Paul Crouch Jr., whose parents, Paul and Jan Crouch, founded TBN with Jim and Tammy Bakker in 1973.
About a year ago, TBN bought the TV license for Orlando’s Channel 52. As part of that transaction, the broadcaster also needed land and buildings to host their TV studios and facilities.
“We heard that they (The Holy Land Experience) needed help. So we entered negotiations (to acquire the park) about one year ago before we signed on the dotted line, so to speak,” he said.
Prior to the merger with TBN, the park had debts of about $8 million, according to the Orlando Sentinel, and had cut operating hours and staff. Thomas E. Powell, the park’s former president, blamed a poor marketing campaign, rising costs and dwindling ticket sales.
Spread over 17 acres in central Florida, the attraction can be described as either a ministry — which is often how the park’s employees refer to it — or a Bible-based attraction. There are replicas of ancient buildings mentioned in the Bible, such as a six-story replica of King Herod’s Temple. Entertainers wear vintage-era costumes to recreate biblical stories, including a daily crucifixion drama that “blesses everyone who sees it,” the park’s promotional materials say.
Another highlight is the largest scale model of Jerusalem, as it looked during the time of Jesus Christ, and what is called a “scriptorium,” a museum that houses numerous historic copies of the Bible. A church, the Acts Fellowship Baptist Church, holds Sunday morning services at the park.
In addition to the 17 acres now used by the park, an additional 10 acres nearby are also available for future development. Crouch said the “immediate plan” is to build a state-of-the-art television studio on site that will be used for TBN broadcasts and productions. TBN has already invested in new audio/visual equipment for the park’s shows.
Crouch also said the park would expand its hours to open on Sunday afternoons after Sunday morning church services.
When the attraction opened, it drew protests from the Jewish Defense League and other Jewish organizations because its founder, Marvin Rosenthal, considered himself a “Hebrew Christian” and because of the “park’s inappropriate mixture of Jewish words and motifs with Christian theology,” said Shelley Rubin, chairman and CEO of the Jewish Defense League.
“The overriding objection was to the proselytizing done there when it first opened,” echoed Rabbi Rick Sherwin of Congregation Beth Am, a Conservative synagogue in nearby Longwood, Fla. “But that proselytizing hasn’t worked. We stopped hearing complaints about the park about one year after it opened. So it’s not that big an issue here anymore.”
In fact, Rubin said her group is “actually pleased to hear of TBN’s takeover” because the network “seldom airs material meant to explicitly offend the Jewish people, or anyone else for that matter. And TBN’s preachers commonly ask their parishioners to pray for the peace and security of Israel.”
Bill T. Jones, the park’s director of biblical studies, said, “In no way are we trying to convert people on some sort of massive scale.”
Colby May, the network’s communications counsel said the mission of the Florida park dovetailed with the mission of the network.
“It wasn’t so much a business experiment but the ability to spread the gospel,” he said. “… It’s a very 21st-century form of communication.”
When TBN was in the negotiating stages of acquiring the park, Crouch said he anonymously bought a ticket and wandered around.
“I saw Bible teachings, people praying for each other while in the park, the shows that they produce … and at the end of the day when I was done, I felt that I had gone to church, not a theme park. That’s when I knew that it was a special place.”
Copyright 2007 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
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posted September 11, 2007 at 6:41 pm
The park sounds interesting.
I would take my kids…except, if we were going to go to Florida….I wouls rather spend several days as Disney World.
Peace!
posted September 11, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Not my cup of tea, but I guess it is someones’ idea of fun. And besides, Central Florida certainly needs yet another theme park!!! (I used to live in Orlando).
posted September 11, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Oh no Pagan sister you can’t be being sarcastic now could you lol.
My in laws lived in the tampa area and that whole region has plenty for sure. I found the comment about it feeling like being in church making it feel like a special place instead of a theme park was odd, thought it was supposed to be a fun place lol.
Also found it interesting that they will open on Sundays, guess money making comes before keeping “the sabbath holy”. Always amazes me how they can ignore things they get irate about when other do it.
Bright blessings
posted September 11, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Me? Sarcastic? Never, Ruairi. Couldn’t you tell I was “serious?”
posted September 11, 2007 at 10:10 pm
The place is a riot. I have not attended but it is right against I-4 at the south Orlando “Lotus” bridge, on Conway Rd, near the mega Millenium Mall. As we were driving by, several years ago, I was stunned to see Herod’s Temple (very disney-esque)built right next to the interstate. Aside form all the “holy” stuff, they also have a climbing wall. The “scriptorium” looks like Jerusalem’s CHurch of the Holy Sepelchur (spelling??) It is within sight of Universal Studios and (on a good day) 10 minutes of The Mouse. I refuse to pay to go, though it is far classier than most roadside religious sites (check out the book by that title — way to cool). someday I break break down, simply out of curiousity. Sadly it is TOO Chritian without acknowledging the othr influences before or after.
posted September 11, 2007 at 10:28 pm
Don’t you guys know that this is one way to spread the Gospel? It’s supposed to be fun! Being a born-again Christian doesn’t have to be boring. Remember, Jesus is coming back so very soon. Are you ready? Look how the devil uses Harry Potter to reel in so many people into thinking that socery and witchcraft is great. Nothing but the devil’s work to make you think that that’s okay. That’s why we need the light of Jesus Christ and christian people to tell the world to get ready for Jesus is coming back. Eternity is forever. Not everyone gets to go to heaven.
posted September 12, 2007 at 12:07 am
A correction…
This theme park is on ConROY Rd (not ConWAY as I first stated). I appologize for any confusion and lost tourists – which we have too many already. It is just as expensive, but far, far smaller than the major parks. At least there is a Krispy Kreme Donut shop nearby!
posted September 12, 2007 at 1:31 am
Sandra, I can’t tell if you are serious or tongue in cheek. Serious religion is often like that; it would all be funny if it weren’t so serious.
Obviously they’ve found another good way to get more bucks from the faithful.
posted September 12, 2007 at 7:39 am
Oh yes….that evil evil Harry Potter. Stories about good overcoming evil should be outlawed.
Geesh….what happened to having an imagination?
I probably would not go to the theme park, but I’m sure it is appealing to those with families. No harm done.
Peace!!
posted September 12, 2007 at 11:25 am
Harry Potter again!! It will be interestig to see whose attendence is stronger, HolyLand or the new Potter part Universal is opening within sight of HolyLand. A discussion about Potter v. Bible (or Jesus) is for another place and time.
Now, it is an interesting question about the role of Theme parks in the American Spiritual consciousness. “The Gospel According the Disney” by Pinskey (of “The G. acc. to the Simpsons”, fame) does a good piece on it. Are theme Parks at attempt (flawed though they must be) at creating a “heaven on earth”? Do they blend of heavenly mythology, with the lofty castle and wondrous gates, with our capitalist / merchant / consumer mentality? Aside from the characters, does the layout and manipulation of the guests enhance the sense that you are in one of the happiest/safest places on earth? It is an nteresting exporation of the American Spiritual psyche. Pinskey does a nice job touching on it. Reading about the Disney Imagineers is also fascinating – almost like reading notes from cathedral builders of long ago. One of my favorite things is to simply walk through the Parks and watch the people interact with each other, the facility, and the hosts/cast members.
Iwonder how many of these lessons were applied to HolyLand experience. From the oputside – driving by in traffic at 60 miles and hour – it looks like they learned something. By the way. you can get a nice satelitte view of HolyLand by going to Google maps, typing in Conroy Rd, Orlando, FL, and zooming in in hybrid mode. It is right at the intersection with I-4.
posted September 12, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Jestrfyl, interesting comments about Holyland, I feel as though I’ve seen enough of it just through your words. Especially if the admission is the same as Disneyworld. We visited Disneyland in CA the year after it opened with our little ones. It was amazing at that time of America! We visited three more times during our childrens childhood; all were the best of fantasy, and fun as only it could be through the eyes of your children. Holyland theme Park is a day of “Sunday School” in the holyland come to life, and has a purpose for enjoyment of children and parents that this appeals to. If the appeal is there the park will flourish and bring in the money. I’ve never read Harry Potters books, have too many of other books I can’t get caught up with. If Harry Potter is added to Universal I’d probably visit it for fun.
posted September 12, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Henrietta, I’d recommend the Harry Potter series. It’s very well done and has strong values I think you’d agree with. And of course if you want to talk to a kid it’s a good common reference.
posted September 12, 2007 at 9:13 pm
It’s people who talk like Sandra that make these kinds of places scary.
I teach a wonderful Creation of the Earth story in my Montessori school. We also share many different creation stories from around the world. I have never had a parent complain either. I even have one so Christian that the kids names are about god.
Harry Potter is a wonderful series who didn’t make me a witch, I was that long before him. He doesn’t even represent anything about real witchcraft, but people are too ignorant to know that. They can’t be bothered to research accurate information. They rather pass on false information. Damn, I would love to be able to twitch my nose, flick a wand or some such fantasy to get my work done.
posted September 12, 2007 at 10:28 pm
Ruairi if you are ever able to achieve getting your work done by twitching your nose, and flicking a wand please post how here so we can do the same.