Reddit user katarokkar recently visited an abandoned 18-acre religious park called Holy Land USA in Waterbury, Connecticut. Originally built in the 50s the park closed to the public in 1984 and it consisted of a chapel, numerous Christian crosses, replicas of catacombs and Israelite villages constructed from cinder blocks, bathtubs and a recreation of the Garden of Eden.

He took these eerie and somewhat creepy pictures while looking around the still somewhat intact theme park. This place is filled with a fascinating, yet dark, aura. Especially considering what happened there in 2010…

The entrance to the now abandoned Holy Land USA.

 

 

The founder, John Baptist Greco, created the attraction to replicate Bethlehem and Jerusalem of the Biblical era.

 

 

Since its closure, Holy Land USA has fallen into a state of advanced disrepair.

 

 

Although it is not open to the public, the site continues to attract attention.

 

 

Numerous attempts to restore it have failed.

 

 

 

 

During its peak years in the 1960s and 1970s, Holy Land USA attracted upwards of 40,000 visitors annually.

 

This 56-foot sign was the centerpiece of the park.

 

Among the attractions at the site were a recreation of the Garden of Eden, a diorama depicting Daniel in the lions’ den, and various recreations of the life and ministry of Jesus.

 

 

But in July of 2010, this park took a very dark turn.

 

A 16 year old girl was raped and murdered…

 

At the foot of a cross.

 

This brought the former park back into the spotlight.

 

But today, it still remains completely abandoned.

Since the murder, there has been a lot of discussion about the future of the property. Many people want to preserve it as folk art, others want to restore it, and then many also believe it should be demolished.

Source

This place is fascinating, both when it was open and now… for completely different reasons. Share it with others below.

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