In Orlando, Fla., the Holy Land Experience, a Christian theme park and church taken over in 2007 by the Trinity Broadcast Network, is experiencing growing pains of its own. The park bills itself as a living biblical museum, and includes replicas of a Jerusalem street market and Calvary’s Garden Tomb, where many Protestants believe Jesus rose from the dead.
According to HLE tax documents from 2001 through 2013 (the most recent year available), operational expenses have exceeded ticket sales every year since the park’s opening. To make ends meet, the park relies heavily on private donations and tax breaks. In its tax filings, HLE has reported more than $90 million in contributions since 2001, and according to Florida’s Orange County Property Appraiser’s Office, the park’s status as a non-profit has saved it $200,000 a year since 2012.
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