Holy Land Experience
Encyclopedia
The Holy Land Experience is a themed exhibit and a museum located in Orlando, Florida
that is meant to replicate the architecture and themes of 1st century Israel. The attraction is targeted at Christians.
minister, founded both the Holy Land Experience and Zion's Hope, which funded the park's construction. The park opened in February 2001.
protested at the Holy Land Experience on its opening day; the group claimed that the purpose of the park was to convert Jews to Christianity
, although Rosenthal denied these claims.
The theme park was featured in Bill Maher's 2008 movie Religulous
, where he debated a park actor portraying Jesus of Nazareth.
On August 21, 2007, former president and board member, Tom Powell, resigned his position to seek "new challenges." Four people remained on the park's board: Paul Crouch Sr.
, Jan Crouch, Paul Crouch Jr.
, and Matthew Crouch. Paul Crouch Jr.
was named the park's president in early August. Between 50 and 100 employees lost their jobs when they were cut from the payroll in October 2007.
es that Orange County
Property Appraiser Bill Donegan alleged were owed. Donnegan argued that the Holy Land Experience is a theme park
. Donegan dropped his fight after state lawmakers passed a law in 2006 granting a tax exemption for theme parks that display, exhibit, illustrate and interpret biblical manuscripts. This is similar to the tax exemption for museums that present historical information on other subjects. The law prevented Orange County from collecting the alleged backtaxes as well as forgiving the park $300,000 in yearly property taxes. The law requires the park to offer an annual free admissions day.
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
that is meant to replicate the architecture and themes of 1st century Israel. The attraction is targeted at Christians.
Founding
Marvin Rosenthal, a Jewish born BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister, founded both the Holy Land Experience and Zion's Hope, which funded the park's construction. The park opened in February 2001.
Reception
The Jewish Defense LeagueJewish Defense League
The Jewish Defense League is a Jewish organization whose stated goal is to "protect Jews from antisemitism by whatever means necessary"...
protested at the Holy Land Experience on its opening day; the group claimed that the purpose of the park was to convert Jews to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, although Rosenthal denied these claims.
Trinity Broadcasting Network ownership
The Holy Land Experience was purchased for $37,000,000 by Trinity Broadcasting Network in June 2007, amid lagging ticket receipts and an estimated $8,000,000 debt.The theme park was featured in Bill Maher's 2008 movie Religulous
Religulous
Religulous is a 2008 American comic documentary film written by and starring comedian Bill Maher and directed by Larry Charles. The title of the film is a portmanteau derived from the words "religion" and "ridiculous"; the documentary examines and mocks organized religion and religious...
, where he debated a park actor portraying Jesus of Nazareth.
On August 21, 2007, former president and board member, Tom Powell, resigned his position to seek "new challenges." Four people remained on the park's board: Paul Crouch Sr.
Paul Crouch
Paul Franklin Crouch is a religious broadcaster and, along with his wife Jan, co-founder of the Trinity Broadcasting Network .-Biography:...
, Jan Crouch, Paul Crouch Jr.
Paul Crouch Jr.
Paul F. Crouch, Jr. is an American Christian broadcaster and former Vice President, and Chief of Staff of the Trinity Broadcasting Network . TBN was founded 38 years ago, by his parents Paul F. Crouch, Sr., and Janice Bethany Crouch....
, and Matthew Crouch. Paul Crouch Jr.
Paul Crouch Jr.
Paul F. Crouch, Jr. is an American Christian broadcaster and former Vice President, and Chief of Staff of the Trinity Broadcasting Network . TBN was founded 38 years ago, by his parents Paul F. Crouch, Sr., and Janice Bethany Crouch....
was named the park's president in early August. Between 50 and 100 employees lost their jobs when they were cut from the payroll in October 2007.
Future plans
TBN plans to upgrade the facility by adding additional attractions including a movie studio to produce Christian films, and a television studio for its recently purchased WHLV-TV. Local administration will be relocated to TBN's California headquarters in phases, when possible.Exhibits
- Main entrance/City Gate: A stone arch modeled after the Damascus GateDamascus GateDamascus Gate is the main entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem. It is located in the wall on the city's northwest side where the highway leads out to Nablus, and from there, in times past, to the capital of Syria, Damascus; as such, its modern English name is Damascus Gate, and its modern Hebrew...
and Jaffa Gate of Jerusalem.
- Jerusalem Street Market: A Middle Eastern marketplace, with city well, and street merchants who interact with guests.
- The Old Scroll Shop: An example of 1st century shopping.
- Wilderness TabernacleTabernacleThe Tabernacle , according to the Hebrew Torah/Old Testament, was the portable dwelling place for the divine presence from the time of the Exodus from Egypt through the conquering of the land of Canaan. Built to specifications revealed by God to Moses at Mount Sinai, it accompanied the Israelites...
: A High PriestKohen GadolThe High Priest was the chief religious official of Israelite religion and of classical Judaism from the rise of the Israelite nation until the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem...
describes Israel’s ancient priesthood, culminating with the Ark of the CovenantArk of the CovenantThe Ark of the Covenant , also known as the Ark of the Testimony, is a chest described in Book of Exodus as solely containing the Tablets of Stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed...
.
- Church of All Nations Prayer Garden: Based on the Church of All Nations built in 1924 by the Catholic Church on the Mount of OlivesMount of OlivesThe Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge in East Jerusalem with three peaks running from north to south. The highest, at-Tur, rises to 818 meters . It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes...
in Jerusalem. The traditional church depicts a section of bedrock where Jesus is said to have prayed before his arrest.
- Dead SeaDead SeaThe Dead Sea , also called the Salt Sea, is a salt lake bordering Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. Its surface and shores are below sea level, the lowest elevation on the Earth's surface. The Dead Sea is deep, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world...
QumranQumranQumran is an archaeological site in the West Bank. It is located on a dry plateau about a mile inland from the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea, near the Israeli settlement and kibbutz of Kalia...
Caves: Replica of the desert caves where the Dead Sea ScrollsDead Sea scrollsThe Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of 972 texts from the Hebrew Bible and extra-biblical documents found between 1947 and 1956 on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea, from which they derive their name...
were discovered.
- The Judean Village: Outdoor vignette stage for dramas and musicals.
- Calvary’s Garden Tomb: A replica of the Garden TombGarden TombThe Garden Tomb , located in Jerusalem, outside the city walls and close to the Damascus Gate, is a rock-cut tomb considered by some to be the site of the burial and resurrection of Jesus, and to be adjacent to Golgotha, in contradistinction to the traditional site for these—the Church of the Holy...
where Jesus’ body was laid to rest.
- Oasis Palms Café: A cafe with an authentic Middle Eastern atmosphere.
- Temple PlazaTemple MountThe Temple Mount, known in Hebrew as , and in Arabic as the Haram Ash-Sharif , is one of the most important religious sites in the Old City of Jerusalem. It has been used as a religious site for thousands of years...
: A six story, white and gold templeReplicas of the Jewish TempleReplicas of the Jewish Temple are scale models or authentic buildings that attempt to replicate the Temple of Solomon, Second Temple and Herod's Temple in Jerusalem.-Scale models:...
, which was the center of Jerusalem’s religious life, serves as a backdrop for the Temple Plaza. It hosts live musicals, presentations, and events.
- Last SupperLast SupperThe Last Supper is the final meal that, according to Christian belief, Jesus shared with his Twelve Apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. The Last Supper provides the scriptural basis for the Eucharist, also known as "communion" or "the Lord's Supper".The First Epistle to the Corinthians is...
Communion: Guests may partake of the last supper with Jesus and disciples.
- Jerusalem Model 66 A.D.: The world’s largest indoor model of Jerusalem. Presentations explain the city’s landmarks and Christ’s final days in Jerusalem.
- The Shofar Shop: A gift shop.
- Shofar Auditorium: A state-of-the-art venue for dramas, musicals, and presentations.
- The Scriptorium: A presentation of the history of the Bible, including authentic, ancient artifacts from around the world.
- Living Word Prayer Garden: Gardens for resting, reflecting and praying.
- Crystal Living Waters: A dancing waters presentation.
- The Jesus BoatThe Sea of Galilee BoatThe Sea of Galilee Boat also known as the was an ancient fishing boat from the 1st century CE , discovered in 1986 on the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee in Israel...
: Replica of a boat found in the Sea of GalileeSea of GalileeThe Sea of Galilee, also Kinneret, Lake of Gennesaret, or Lake Tiberias , is the largest freshwater lake in Israel, and it is approximately in circumference, about long, and wide. The lake has a total area of , and a maximum depth of approximately 43 m...
, dating back to the time of Christ.
Property taxes
There was a four year legal fight concerning almost $1,000,000 in property taxProperty tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
es that Orange County
Orange County, Florida
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 1,145,956....
Property Appraiser Bill Donegan alleged were owed. Donnegan argued that the Holy Land Experience is a theme park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
. Donegan dropped his fight after state lawmakers passed a law in 2006 granting a tax exemption for theme parks that display, exhibit, illustrate and interpret biblical manuscripts. This is similar to the tax exemption for museums that present historical information on other subjects. The law prevented Orange County from collecting the alleged backtaxes as well as forgiving the park $300,000 in yearly property taxes. The law requires the park to offer an annual free admissions day.
External links
- Holy Land Experience
- The Gift of Eternal Life A filmmaker visits and films The Holy Land Experience. At Triple Canopy (online magazine)Triple Canopy (online magazine)Triple Canopy is an online magazine, which was first published in 2008. In an effort to "slow down the Internet," the magazine curates and facilitates new media projects, which engage with the formal possibilities of the web. Its content ranges from art and literature to essays and critical theory...
.
See also
- Holy Land USAHoly Land USAHoly Land USA was an theme park in Waterbury, Connecticut, inspired by selected passages from the Bible. It consists of a chapel, stations of the cross and replicas of catacombs and Israelite villages constructed from cinder blocks, bathtubs, and other discards...
, a similar park in Connecticut.