Paul and Jan Crouch, founders of the world’s largest Christian media empire, walk a little slower these days. But that hasn’t slowed down the whirlwind transformation of their newest acquisition: Orlando’s Holy Land Experience theme park.
When their Trinity Broadcasting Network purchased Holy Land for $37 million in June, longtime employees and supporters hoped the takeover would usher in a new era of financial stability for the park. However, once the first family of old-school American televangelism settled in, they began reshaping it.
More than 50 employees — or a quarter of the work force — were fired or laid off. Scores of trees buffering the re-creation of first-century Jerusalem from I-4 traffic were cut down. The cavelike interior of the biblically themed Oasis Caf� was painted purple. Furnishings left behind by the previous owners were dumped, and then replaced by opulent and expensive new pieces.
OUCH ! ! I’m so glad I went last year with a group of dedicated Christians. Wondering what the “RAZZLE DAZZLE” will do to the special atmosphere that we experienced.
Come to Bible, Bible
Come to Bible land
Where the tickets are expensive,
and the sights are out of hand.
Come to Bible, Bible,
Come to Bible Land
See Moses part the Red Sea
Three big shows every day!
— Terry Talbot
Holy Hucksterism Lives
Barf
God AND Mammon . . .
Sounds like the fox got into the henhouse. All that is left is a bunch of bones and dirty feathers.
I visited the Holy land Experience a couple of years ago. The Bible exhibit and the model of Jerusalem were well done, but the rest of the place was pretty tacky.