Holy Land Experience

{{Short description|Christian theme park}}
{{Infobox amusement park
| name = Holy Land Experience
| image = Holy Land Experience - Church of All Nations.jpg
| caption = Church of All Nations at Holy Land Experience
| slogan = 
| location = [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]
| location2 = Florida
| location3 = United States
| coordinates = {{Coord|28.496172|-81.433004|type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| status = Defunct <!-- Planned, Under construction, Operating, Closed, Defunct -->
| opening_date = {{Start date|2001|02}}
| closing_date = {{End date|2020|03|14}}
| owner = [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]]
| season = Year-round
| visitors = 
| area = 
| area_ha = 
| area_acre = 
| homepage = 
| footnotes = 
}}
The '''Holy Land Experience''' ('''HLE''') was a [[Christianity|Christian]] [[amusement park]] in [[Orlando, Florida]] and registered non-profit corporation. HLE conducted weekly church services and bible studies for the general public. HLE's theme park recreated the architecture and themes of the ancient city of [[Jerusalem]] in 1st-century [[Judaea (Roman province)|Judaea]]. The Holy Land Experience was owned by the [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]]. It closed in March 2020.

== History ==
[[File:Lake at HLE.jpg|thumb|Lake in the center of the park|200x200px]]
The park had its origin in a dream of Marvin Rosenthal, a Jew of Russian origin who became a [[Baptist]] pastor, founder of the missionary organization Zion's Hope, who bought land in [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-01-11 |title=ORLANDO’S HOLY LAND |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2001-01-11-0101110292-story.html/ |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=Orlando Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> The park opened in February 2001.<ref>George Thomas Kurian, Mark A. Lamport, ''Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, Volume 5'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2016, p. 517</ref>

On August 17, 2002, the Holy Land Experience Scriptorium museum opened. It featured the Van Kampen Collection of biblically related artifacts.  The collection included ancient scrolls, manuscripts, and early printed editions of the Bible. The collection was the fourth largest of its kind. The Van Kampen Collection was founded in 1986 by Robert and Judith Van Kampen. In 1994, [[Robert Van Kampen]] established a privately funded research library for the purpose of presenting the collection to the academic community as well as the general public. The Scriptorium: Center for Christian Antiquities, located in Grand Haven, MI, housed the Collection. In 2002, the Collection relocated to Orlando, where it was on loan to the Holy Land Experience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.solagroup.org/vkc.html |title=The Van Kampen Collection |publisher=Solagroup.org |access-date=2012-09-01}}</ref>

In June 2007, the Holy Land Experience Board of Directors sold the property to the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), for an estimated $37 million. The property was an estimated $8 million in debt at the time of the sale.<ref name="Jobs">{{cite news|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/chi-holyland-story,0,5402783.story?page=1|title=Scores lose jobs as Holy Land undergoes extreme makeover: The new owners preach the prosperity gospel while boosting park attendance|last=Pinsky|first=Mark I.|author2=Susan Thompson|date=2007-10-21|work=Orlando Sentinel|publisher=Tribune Company|access-date=2009-04-06}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> At that time TBN planned to update the park and use the property to build a Central Florida broadcasting facility, and a movie studio in order to produce Christian films.

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]].<ref>[http://newsinitiative.org/story/2007/08/28/holy_land_experience_chief_resigns Holy Land Experience chief resigns 10 weeks into TBN takeover] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929133804/http://newsinitiative.org/story/2007/08/28/holy_land_experience_chief_resigns |date=2007-09-29 }} – Carnegie Knight Foundation</ref> Between 50 and 100 employees lost their jobs when they were cut from the payroll in October 2007.<ref name="Jobs"/> [[Jan Crouch]] was Director and CEO until her death in May 2016.<ref name="Rosenthals">{{cite news|url=http://www.southflorida.com/travel/sfl-holyland,0,7964224.story|title=Holyland theme park|last=Davis|first=James D.|year=2007|work=Sun Sentinel|publisher=Tribune Company|access-date=2009-04-06}}</ref>

Under TBN’s ownership, The Holy Land Experience underwent construction and the addition of new landscaping, exhibits, restaurants, and theaters which featured live musical and theatrical productions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.holylandexperience.com/calendar/live_shows_2010.html |title=Live Shows 2012 |publisher=The Holy Land Experience |access-date=2012-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225001519/http://www.holylandexperience.com/calendar/live_shows_2010.html |archive-date=2014-12-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The park also introduced weekly bible studies, church services and live cooking demonstrations. The Smile of a Child Adventure Land was added to the park exhibits. This children’s park featured exhibits and activities for children, such as a wilderness rock-climbing wall, toy store, children’s theater and craft center.

===Holy Land Experience mission statement===
HLE was a non-denominational Christian living biblical museum and church. Church services and bible studies were conducted by ordained pastors for the general public on a weekly basis. HLE was registered as a non-profit corporation with the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sunbiz.org/scripts/cordet.exe?action=DETFIL&inq_doc_number=N32823&inq_came_from=NAMFWD&cor_web_names_seq_number=0001&names_name_ind=N&names_cor_number=&names_name_seq=&names_name_ind=&names_comp_name=HOLYLANDEXPERIENCEMINISTIRIES&names_filing_type= |title=Department of State |publisher=www.sunbiz.org |access-date=2012-09-01}}</ref>

===Church of All Nations===
In 2012, the 2,000 seat Church of All Nations auditorium opened.  The facility featured live presentations and reenactments of the passion and [[crucifixion]] of Jesus Christ, and the depiction of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven. Live tapings of TBN’s flagship TV show, ''[[Praise (TV program)|Praise the Lord]]'', were also taped in the facility, in addition to concerts and church services.

=== Closure ===
[[File:Holy_Land_Experience_Demolition_(52977810829).jpg|thumb|200px|Demolition of the colosseum]]
In February 2020, after a sharp decline in revenue for several years, the park announced that it would be laying off 118 employees, representing most of its staff, and would be ending all theatrical productions, restaurants and retail shops.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kennedy Wynne|first=Sharon|date=February 18, 2020|title=Christian theme park Holy Land Experience will lay off 118 workers|url=https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/2020/02/18/christian-theme-park-holy-land-experience-will-lay-off-118-workers/|website=Tampa Bay|language=en-US}}</ref> On August 2, 2021, the property was sold to [[AdventHealth]], which plans to redevelop the land for a new [[emergency department]], [[hospital]] and [[office building]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Breaking: Orlando's Holy Land Experience theme park sells to AdventHealth|url=https://www.wftv.com/news/local/breaking-orlandos-holy-land-experience-theme-park-sells-adventhealth/2FXORBMKANDGFC66B7ROBPBW6I/|access-date=2021-08-05|website=WFTV|date=5 August 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2022/08/05/adventhealth-holy-land-experience-orlando-florida.html|title=AdventHealth changes project slated for former Holy Land Experience site in Orlando|last=Lynch|first=Ryan|date=2022-08-05|website=[[Orlando Business Journal]]|access-date=2023-06-16}}</ref> On April 28, 2023, demolition of the buildings at the former amusement park was started.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McReynolds |first=Landon |date=2023-04-28 |title=Miracle makeover: Crews begin tearing down Holy Land Experience |url=https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/04/28/miracle-makeover-crews-begin-tearing-down-holy-land-experience/ |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=WKMG |language=en}}</ref> On June 12, 2023, the last buildings that were [[Demolition|demolished]] were the colosseum and the scriptorium.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/12/holy-land-experiences-coliseum-now-gone-as-demolition-continues/|title=Holy Land Experience's coliseum now gone as demolition continues|last=Zizo|first=Christie|date=2023-06-12|website=[[ClickOrlando.com]]|access-date=2023-06-16}}</ref>

== Exhibits ==
[[File:Jerusalem Model A.D. 66 (HLE).jpg|thumb|200x200px|Jerusalem Model A.D. 66]]
There were approximately 43 exhibits in the park.<ref>Quentin J. Schultze, Robert Herbert Woods Jr., ''Understanding Evangelical Media: The Changing Face of Christian Communication'', InterVarsity Press, USA, 2009, p. 162</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.holylandexperience.com/guest_services/seasonal_hours.html |title=Seasonal Hours |publisher=The Holy Land Experience |access-date=2012-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225001531/http://www.holylandexperience.com/guest_services/seasonal_hours.html |archive-date=2014-12-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Holy Land Experience Park Map|url=http://www.holylandexperience.com/hle_park_map.pdf|access-date=27 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210141326/http://www.holylandexperience.com/hle_park_map.pdf|archive-date=10 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:God with Us.jpg|alt=God with us – Holy Land Experience|thumb|200x200px|Holy Land Experience – God with us]]
== 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>

==See also==
* [[Heritage USA]], a defunct religious theme park.
*[[Holy Land USA]], a similar park in Connecticut.
*[[Tierra Santa (theme park)|Tierra Santa]], a similar park in Argentina.
*[[Bible Land]], a roadside attraction in California.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303034439/http://www.holylandexperience.com/ |date=March 3, 2020 |title=Holy Land Experience }}

{{Theme Parks of Florida}}
{{AdventHealth}}
{{Metro Orlando}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:AdventHealth]]
[[Category:Christianity in Orlando, Florida]]
[[Category:Defunct amusement parks in Florida]]
[[Category:Museums established in 2001]]
[[Category:Amusement parks opened in 2001]]
[[Category:Religious museums in Florida]]
[[Category:Defunct museums in Florida]]
[[Category:Trinity Broadcasting Network]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Orlando, Florida]]
[[Category:Amusement parks in Orlando, Florida]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Amusement parks in Florida]]
[[Category:Christian museums]]
[[Category:Museums disestablished in 2020]]
[[Category:Amusement parks closed in 2020]]
[[Category:2020 disestablishments in Florida]]