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By Kathy Barnett Managing Editor ATERBURY - To some who visit the remains of an 18-acre theme park, inspired by selected passages from the Bible, find inspiration and solace in its existance. Others have reported experiencing an eerie, ghost-like atmosphere from the statues and structures that have falleninto disrepair over the years. Holy Land USA was conceived by John Baptist Greco, a Waterbury-based attorney. Greco, a Roman Catholic, founded a volunteer organization called Companions of Christ, with the purpose of creating an attraction that would replicate Bethlehem and Jerusalem of the Biblical era. Construction commenced in 1955. It opened soon after and welcomed an average of 40,000 to 50,000 visitors a year. This park did not offer carnival rides, games, or food. Instead, there was huge 56-foot illuminated cross
as a focal point with numerous onrete buildings and statues to depict the Biblical cities of Bethlehem and Jerusalem. There was a snack bar and gift shop. A huge Hollywood-style sign graced the banks of the village announcing the Holy Land USA destination. The park closed in 1984 and quickly fell into disrepair. Vandalism took it’s toll on the once popular site until area church officials and community volunteers recently began restoring attractions and repaving roads. In a
turn of events that may be familiar to people of faith, the park appears to be in the midst of a resurrection. While it is still officially closed, people still visit the site to pray or offer devotions on the mountain. Many Waterbury residents are Catholic, but people of all faiths have banded together to help rehabilitate the park. Volunteers have helped remove trees, large rocks, and trash from the site, and a construction company donated their time to repave the winding paths with donated tar. Mass was held in 2018 with more than 1,000 attending. It was a hit, so the event was repeated in 2019. Although the park has a long way to go before it’s back to hosting 40,000 people a year as before, there is hope it will return to its original splendor and welcome even more. For more information and updates, call the Waterbury Region Convention and Visitors Bureau at 888-588-7880.
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