F. Roy Kemp

Holy Land, U.S.A is an Abandoned Christian Theme Park With A Dark Past

The theme park included a Garden of Eden, life-sized scenes from the Bible and statues of Jesus.

August 01, 2019

The feeling of "kenopsia," according to The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, is the "eerie, forlorn atmosphere of a place that's usually bustling with people but is now abandoned and quiet — a school hallway in the evening, an unlit office on a weekend, vacant fairgrounds..." There might be no feeling more fitting for Holy Land, U.S.A. It's a former Christian theme park that has since been abandoned, leaving behind decomposing relics of the happy place it once was — and since a terrible crime was committed on its empty grounds, it's only gotten creepier.

A Place That Evokes "Kenopsia"

Designed to look like a small-scale version of Biblical Bethlehem, the roadside theme park in Waterbury, Connecticut had more than 50,000 visitors every year during the 1960s. It was open the decade prior by John Baptist Greco, a Catholic attorney with a name to match. Attractions included the Garden of Eden, life-sized scenes from the Bible, and statues of Jesus. You could even find a little inn with a "no vacancy" sign right near Nativity Square.

In 1984, Greco shut the place down to expand it and attract more people, but that never happened — he died two years later. The park was bequeathed to a group of nuns, who kept it clean and maintained but never allowed admittance. However, a "closed" sign on something this spooky at night never stopped teenagers before, and didn't stop them then. They broke in and vandalized the place, leaving behind headless statues, a destroyed "Last Supper" wall, broken bottles, and other evidence of rebellious behavior.

Nuns of Our Business

Even worse, in 2010 a teenage girl was murdered in the abandoned park. With that tragedy and the subsequent selling of the land by the nuns to new owners who may not be as forgiving of trespassers, the fascination of this ghostly attraction of yesteryear is all but left to internet searches and short YouTube documentaries. If you're driving through Waterbury, though, you can't miss it: there's a Hollywood-style sign and a giant cross marking the spot. We wouldn't recommend the visit, though. The surrounding area is covered in "no trespassing" signs, which are a lot less endearing than "no vacancy."

This article first appeared on Curiosity.com.

Next Up

Meet the First 6 Awardees of The Explorers Club Discovery Expedition Grant Program

Today, The Explorers Club, a non-profit world leader in exploration, and Discovery Channel announced the first class of awardees to receive approximately a quarter of a million dollars collectively to fund their expeditions. Let’s meet The Explorers Club Discovery Grant awardees.

Celebrating Black Explorers with J.R. Harris

Meet J. Robert Harris, a marketing consultant and social scientist by profession and a true explorer by heart. He's been exploring remote parts of the world for 50 years. Using personal anecdotes and archival images, J.R. draws from his own expedition experience and spotlights the struggles and triumphs of Black explorers throughout history and those who forge ahead today.

This Tanzanian Lake is a Vision in Red- And You Can Visit

This picturesque lake in northern Tanzania is harsh enough to burn anything that touches it. Unless, of course, you're one of the select few species adapted to thrive in it.

Werewolf of the Mexican South

Ocozocoautla de Espinosa is a small town that hugs one of the least-visited Natural Reserves in Mexico’s southernmost state of Chiapas and it may have a werewolf problem.

Exploring Isolation: Inside the Minds of Legendary Explorers

In the time of quarantine, exploration legends Kathy Sullivan, Bertrand Piccard, and Børge Ousland know a thing or two about facing the challenges of isolation.

Why Do People Live Near Active Volcanoes?

Volcanoes have a lot to offer local residents.

5 Stunning Places You Never Knew Existed

Marvel at these awe-inspiring places from around the world.

The Crater Lakes of Mount Kelimutu Change Color All The Time

Whereas other colored lakes often get their hues from certain species of bacteria, Mount Kelimutu's lakes are a bit more mysterious.

These Are the 6 Best Cities for Biking in the US

Biking could be one of the best things you can do for yourself.

Climb England’s Stomach-Churning Iron Way

Adventure into Victorian England with rickety bridges and vertical climbs across a 19th-century mine.