Holy Land in Connecticut is truly one of the most intriguing places you’ll ever visit. It’s an abandoned theme park with an interesting story. Inspired by numerous Bible stories, Holy Land was built to spread the Gospel in a truly unique way. In its heyday, there were reenactments and intricate replicas of historic Israelite villages. If you ever wondered what it would be like to live in the times of the Bible, Holy Land in Connecticut would show you. But unfortunately, the park went under in 1984. Let’s take a look at its story:

Holy Land USA, Waterbury, opened in 1956.
GrammarFascist/Wikimedia
As this postcard shows, this park was well-kept in 1960. The idea of the park was conceived by Waterbury attorney John Baptist Greco. He was a spiritual man who believed that his park would have the power to bring the people together and put them at peace.
Visitors entered the park through stone arches...
zaigee/Flickr
..And then were immediately transported back to Biblical times. Visiting the park was like traveling back in time to the early days of Jerusalem. Dirt paths and mud stone buildings created layered "shelves" tucked into the hill.
Holy Land is a peaceful place to visit; very still and serene.
Timothy Neesam/Flickr
"The rainbow praises those who made it" was written on this metal structure of a rainbow -- that has since collapsed. You'll also come across "God Is Love" and paintings of Jesus on stone walls. There are also longer quotes from the scripture on stone tablets throughout the property.

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At Holy Land, you could visit the sites of popular Bible stories.
Justin Clavet/Flickr
Herod's Palace was one of many places you could see come to life. Others included the Garden of Eden and Daniel in the lion's den. There were also reenactments from scenes of Jesus's life.
The structures replicated Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
Justin Clavet/Flickr
Though small, these structures illustrated entire cities as envisioned by the owner and hired artists. At its peak, attendees said they felt their souls lifted and it became a popular destination of the early 1970s.
The cross atop the hill is Holy Land's pièce de résistance.
Carnavas/Flickr
It's towering -- and a little of ominous. At 56 feet tall, you will feel small standing beside it. There are several crosses on the property, but they are mostly wooden and some have since been vandalized or deteriorated. But it was important to those who believed in the park that no matter what happened to the rest of the park, the cross remained standing.
Today, Holy Land USA is a proud part of the revitalization of the City of Waterbury.
zaigee/Flickr
When you stand at the cross at night, you'll get an incredible look at the city below. If the views of the park itself don't move you, this one certainly will.

The park was purchased by Mayor Neil O’Leary and car dealer Fred “Fritz” Blasius in the summer of 2013. They have since added an illuminated cross, and they have since announced plans to restore parts of the park in order to preserve it as historical folk art. To see more of Holy Land, check out this video of a young explorer’s visit:

Have you visited Holy Land in Connecticut? This place is a total hidden gem, not unlike these 10 under-the-radar spots in The Constitution State.

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Holy Land In Connecticut

Sarah | February 09, 2021

Are there other sacred places in Connecticut?

Aside from Holy Land in Connecticut, The Constitution State is home to some seriously beautiful churches. These sacred places are located throughout the state; Wilton has a particularly gorgeous church with intricate stone work and a large upper window that make this church like a castle. Center Church in New Haven is also stunning, albeit a bit strange. There is something else inside Center Church that really sets it apart: a crypt. And we're not talking any old crypt -- Center Church was built on a graveyard, and instead of removing or destroying any of the graves during construction, they simply built a crypt around it and the church over that crypt. Sounds spooky!

What are some abandoned places in Connecticut?

There sure are - and we have a road trip where you can see some of the most unique abandoned places in the state! First on the list: Tarrywile Park in Danbury. More than 120 years old, the castle hasn't been inhabited for decades; however, the three-story, 17-room structure is still quite impressive. There was originally a secret passage from the kitchen to the study, and despite all of the stone being from local sources, the wood details on the inside were all imported from Italy. So prepare to gaze upon this masterpiece, because it will leave you mystified.

Does Connecticut have any haunted places?

Are you into ghost hunting? Connecticut is full of haunted places sure to give you thrills -- and chills! With a history dating back to 1633, it’s no surprise there are more than a few haunted places in Connecticut. Some feature the spirits of early settlers. Other haunted spots play home to the eternal unrest of Revolutionary War soldiers. Some ghosts rumored to haunt Connecticut spots lived as recently as the 20th Century. What we're saying, is that there are haunted places of all varieties here in Connecticut -- you just need to be brave enough to explore!

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Featured Addresses
Holy Land USA Waterbury, 60 Slocum St, Waterbury, CT 06706, USA