Holy Land Experience

== Controversies ==
In 2001, the [[Jewish Defense League]] accused the Holy Land Experience of [[proselytizing]] to Jewish visitors because of the park's and its parent company's status as a Christian missionary organization, claiming that the park was designed to surreptitiously convert Jewish visitors to Christianity. <ref name="Controversy">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/02/05/national/main269646.shtml|title=Controversy At Religious Theme Park: Jews Protest, Claim Goal Is To Convert Jews To Christianity|date=2001-02-05|work=CBS News|publisher=CBS Interactive Inc.|access-date=2009-04-07}}</ref> Founder Marvin Rosenthal categorically refuted this accusation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-feb-28-cl-30985-story.html|title=Holy Land Theme Park Opens the Gates to Controversy|last=Pressely|first=Sue|date=2001-02-28|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-08}}</ref> 

In 2001, Orange County refused the park's tax exemption request.<ref>Dennis Blank, [https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/23/us/florida-religious-theme-park-fights-for-property-tax-exemption.html Florida Religious Theme Park Fights for Property Tax Exemption], nytimes.com, USA,  November 23, 2001</ref> However, in 2005, a judge ruled in favor of the park receiving tax exemption because of its religious mission and not-for-profit status, likening the park to museums whose exhibits present historical information. <ref>Tampa Bay, [https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2005/07/12/holy-land-park-wins-tax-ruling/ Orlando Holy Land], tampabay.com, USA, August 25, 2005</ref> The law prevented the county government and the state of Florida from collecting the park's previously-owed $300,000 in unpaid yearly property taxes, but required the park to offer an annual free admissions day.<ref name="Land">{{cite news|url=http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2009/01/12/story2.html|title=Holy Land Experience gains ground for growth: Small attraction buys adjacent office park|date=2009-01-12|work=[[Orlando Business Journal]]|access-date=2009-04-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-cfborl-beth-kassab-holy-land-06062909jun29,0,4064379.column|title=Holy Land free day still a mystery|last=Kassab|first=Beth |date=June 29, 2009|newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|access-date=2009-10-07}}</ref>