Bible Park USA Developer Considering Alternative Sites For Park
Published: June 10, 2008
The developers of Bible Park USA are now considering other potential sites for their proposed religious theme park after being turned down by Rutherford County in Tennessee.
The New York-based company behind the park, SafeHarbor Holding, is now in "serious" conversations with a Mayor Don Fox to locate the park in Wilson County, Tenn.
Special tax zones approved by Rutherford and Wilson county state legislators would allow the sales tax generated by the Bible-theme park to help pay for the $180 millon dollar development.
"They had already come over and had driven off the sites," says Mayor Donn Fox. "They were very familiar with Tater Peeler Road, the dead end and that's where they zoomed in on."
Armon Bar-Tur, the primary developer, who has also been fielding other offers, said in a statement that his company has been "overwhelmed" with inquiries from other sites for the Bible Park.
Before his proposal for the 282-acre park was rejected, Bar-Tur had been courting Rutherford County for about a year. Developers had originally planned to open Bible Park USA, a $175-200 million dollar project by Easter 2010. The project was presented as an "edutainment" experience - a mixed offering of education and entertainment, that will allow visitors to experience live familiar Bible stories and life in ancient biblical times. Devleopers plan to showcase Bible stories from both the Old and New Testaments in a non-denominational and non-interpretive way.
The Holy Land Experience in Orlando, Fla., is currently the only other U.S.-based attraction that touts a similar experience, although it is more focused on Jerusalem-related attractions.
While developers have received a number of complaints from pastors questioning the biblical accuracy of the displays, Bible Park USA has also drawn opposition from opponents who claim the park will bring to the surrounding community traffic congestion, noise, and unwanted commercialism.
Controversy also arose in early May when media outlets reported that Bar-Tur used to be a photographer for Penthouse magazine in the 1970s.
Safe Harbor Holdings is however now considering six sites in Lebanon, Tenn., and according to WSMV Nashville. Fox, Bar-Tur believes the park could potentially draw 2.5 million people to the area.
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Bible Park USA Developer Considering Alternative Sites For Park
Published: June 10, 2008
Bible Park USA developers, Safe Harbor Landings, is now considering alternative sites for theme park
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