Holy Land Experience facts for kids
Church of All Nations at Holy Land Experience
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| Location | Orlando, Florida, United States |
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| Coordinates | 28°29′46″N 81°25′59″W / 28.496172°N 81.433004°W |
| Status | Defunct |
| Opened | February 2001 |
| Closed | March 14, 2020 |
| Owner | Trinity Broadcasting Network |
| Operating season | Year-round |
The Holy Land Experience (HLE) was a Christian amusement park in Orlando, Florida. It was also a registered non-profit organization. HLE held weekly church services and Bible studies for everyone. The park's design copied the buildings and themes of the ancient city of Jerusalem from the 1st century. The Trinity Broadcasting Network owned the Holy Land Experience. It closed in March 2020. In August 2021, the park was sold to AdventHealth for $32 million.
Contents
History of the Holy Land Experience
The idea for the park came from Marvin Rosenthal. He was a Baptist pastor of Russian Jewish background. He founded a missionary group called Zion's Hope. Rosenthal bought land in Orlando in 1989. The park first opened its doors in February 2001.
The Scriptorium Museum
In August 2002, the Holy Land Experience Scriptorium museum opened. It showed the Van Kampen Collection of items related to the Bible. This collection included old scrolls, handwritten books, and early printed Bibles. It was the fourth largest collection of its kind. Robert and Judith Van Kampen started the collection in 1986. In 2002, the collection moved to Orlando. It was on loan to the Holy Land Experience.
New Ownership and Changes
In June 2007, the Holy Land Experience was sold to the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). The sale was for about $37 million. TBN planned to update the park. They also wanted to use the land to build a broadcasting center and a movie studio. This studio would make Christian films.
Under TBN, the Holy Land Experience got many new things. These included new landscaping, exhibits, restaurants, and theaters. The theaters showed live musical and stage plays. The park also started weekly Bible studies, church services, and live cooking shows. A children's area called Smile of a Child Adventure Land was added. This area had a rock-climbing wall, a toy store, and a craft center for kids.
What the Park Was About
HLE was a Christian museum and church that welcomed all faiths. It was not linked to one specific Christian group. Ordained pastors led church services and Bible studies every week. HLE was officially registered as a non-profit organization in Florida.
The Church of All Nations
In 2012, the Church of All Nations auditorium opened. It could seat 2,000 people. This facility hosted live shows and acted out stories from the Bible. These included the story of Jesus Christ's suffering, crucifixion, and his return to heaven. TBN's main TV show, Praise the Lord, was also filmed there. The auditorium also held concerts and church services.
Why the Park Closed
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In February 2020, the park announced it would let go of most of its staff. This was because the park had been making less money for several years. All theatrical shows, restaurants, and shops also closed. On August 2, 2021, the property was sold to AdventHealth for $32 million. This hospital network plans to build a new emergency department, a hospital, and an office building on the land. Demolition of the park buildings began in April 2023. The last buildings, including the colosseum and the scriptorium, were torn down in June 2023.
Park Exhibits
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The park had about 43 different exhibits. These included a large model of Jerusalem from the year A.D. 66. There was also a model of the Second Temple.
See also
In Spanish: Holy Land Experience para niños
- Heritage USA, another religious theme park that is now closed.
- Holy Land USA, a similar park in Connecticut.
- Tierra Santa, a similar park in Argentina.
- Bible Land, a roadside attraction in California.
