One man's strange dream now sits in utter ruin on a hillside in urban Connecticut forgotten by many of those who live even in a close proximity to it. When one says the words "theme park", ideas of roller coasters, midway games, and gift shops may come to mind, but the Holy Land theme park was something entirely different. Holy Land, with massive letters spelled out on the hill side in the same font as the Hollywood sign in California, is a miniature reconstruction of the city of Jerusalem in Israel from the time period of the birth and life of Jesus.
The attractions include: Miniature Jerusalem, a miniature reconstruction of the tomb of Christ, the massive letters spelled on the hillside, and a huge cross which stands several stories tall and is the only feature of the park which is visible from the road. It stands at the peak of the hill and can be seen all the way from the passing highway.
Upon learning about this abandoned park, which had closed down after a series of several unfortunate events leading to the park's ruin, I was fascinated by the location and anxious to see if for myself. My adventurous father who instilled the love of exploration in me, my Uncle who is a quiet soul but deeply intelligent and imaginative, and I made the decision in the middle of the wintertime in the snow to go explore the site. But since the park had been closed to the public, I went through the exhausting formalities of acquiring permission from the town's Governor's Secretary and from the Catholic caretakers of the park who look after it as a religious site to enter the grounds and explore the park under the ruse that I was a student writing a report about the park, on the condition that we do not damage or disturb any of the crumbling exhibits.
Written permission in hand to enter, we drove to the park up an unassuming hillside which would give no indication of leading to anywhere in particular. The only indicator that we were in the right location until we reached the top was the white cross looming from the hilltop. I remember the complete silence on the hill top as we stepped out of the car into the untouched snow. Stone and wooden structures resembling the ancient dwellings from biblical times lay open to the elements just beyond a heavy iron gate which screeched in protest as we opened it. This ghost town of a theme park had become increasingly ominous with the dilapidation of the structures. But to stand beneath the towering cross in the top of the hill is awe inspiring when one finally gets an idea of how massive it is. Holy Land is still an amazing place to visit, with the right permissions. The emptiness and silence is haunting, particularly during the winter. It leaves a lasting impression in one's memory, and I would encourage anyone who can secure the same permission I was given to see this amazing site for themselves.
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