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Bible Park U.S.A.

Depictions of Moses standing before a burning bush and Noah’s Ark are envisioned as theme attractions at a “Bible Park U.S.A.” proposed for Rutherford County.

Developers of the $150-300 million educational and non-evangelical park expect to hire 200 to 300 fulltime employees and 500 to 1,000 seasonal employees, said Armon Bar-Tur, managing director and co-founder of SafeHarbor Holdings LLC of New York City.

Holly Sears, chamber director of economic development, said developers expect 800,000 to one million visitors annually.

Bar-Tur presented a concept of the park Friday to Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce board members, Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess and county commissioners, city officials from Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne and Eagleville, and the county’s state legislators during a meeting at Smyrna Town Centre.

While the location has not been confirmed, two county commissioners and several homeowners told The Murfreesboro Post the concept plan is targeted off Blackman Road near Interstate 24. Bar-Tur said the park would need about 50 to 150 acres with about half needed for parking.

Blackman resident Al Demumbreum, who said he lives across from the proposed 240-acres Shelton farm site, said he’d rather have the theme park than 240 houses.

County Mayor Ernest Burgess said if developed in the county, the park would provide an economic boon to the county. Before becoming a reality, Burgess said the county must address traffic, noise, water and sewer issues that could be worked out.

“I do personally feel this project will be of great benefit,” Burgess said.

In an interview, Burgess said he expects SafeHarbor to continue evaluating the project and “crunching their numbers about costs and prospective services” before deciding on a definite location.

“Although it’s yet to be determined, it’s probable it could be in the county,” Burgess said, explaining the county could receive all of the local option sales tax from the park. After the basic services such as roads and water, Burgess doesn’t believe the park will require many county services.

In his presentation, Bar-Tur said the park will show “visual story of the Bible” independent of religion. Visitors will enter the gates of Jericho leading to Jerusalem. A moat will connect the Dead Sea to the Sea of Galilee. A museum will highlight, “The Bible — the Greatest Adventure.” One anchor ride will allow visitors a simulated helicopter ride over Jerusalem.

“This will be an incredible experience for all ages,” Bar-Tur said.

An Agape Tent will allow visitors to eat authentic Middle Eastern food.

The Old Testament part will feature a Tree of Life with stories told throughout the park. In the Exodus story, developers envision 25-foot high “waves of water” rising at each side with Moses standing in front of a large inferno to represent the burning bush.

Noah’s Ark will have a full-sized ark with a “Two by Two Theater Experience.” Several fun rides will be offered.

The New Testament section will feature the Sight and Sound Theater from Pennsylvania to act out stories from the Bible. Designers propose a stone tablet wall inscribed with the New Testament. Church members may conduct Bible study in the area.

A Dome of the Light will host a museum with the exhibits such as the Dead Sea Scrolls and a recording studio where churches may record CDs to bring back to their church.

“Maybe we’ll have a battle of the choirs,” Bar-Tur said.

The teen area will feature a dark, indoor roller coaster, coffee house and sports center.

SafeHarbor is sponsoring its first Hard Rock theme park that is expected to open next year in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Bible theme park is the first one proposed by SafeHarbor.

Bar-Tur believes the park will result in a significant economic impact to the county.

Rob Lyons, Murfreesboro’s assistant city manager, said the presentation was a “very exciting opportunity for Rutherford County with more work and study to come. This project is looking at Rutherford County and we believe the project would have a very positive impact for all of us.”

Sears said elected officials must create a tourism or entertainment district for the site and zoning must be addressed. She received positive feedback after the meeting.

Chamber President Steve Benefield said the park is another opportunity to diversify the economy and create new revenues for county government. He compared the park to King’s Island near Cincinnati, Six Flags Over Georgia or the Disney Parks in Orlando, Florida.

Benefield expects visitors from all over the world that will spend tourism dollars in the county. He hopes they will also visit other tourism sites like Stones River National Battlefield and the Sam Davis Home.

The park will create hotel, restaurant, shopping and service jobs too.

“We have for years and years described tourism as being a clean industry,” Benefield said. “It brings people into the community, allows them to spend their disposable income and go back to where they may live. It’s a very positive opportunity for our community.”

Ministers react to proposed Bible oriented theme park

Pastor Ed Lykens plans to visit the proposed Bible theme park on the first day it opens if the tourist attraction locates in Rutherford County.

Lykens, who pastors the First Church of the Nazarene, said he would be curious to learn how the park would portray the Bible.

Developers of the proposed Bible park reported the tourist attraction would depict the Old and New Testaments. Developers are considering Rutherford County as a possible location.

While no specific location was announced, The Murfreesboro Post learned from residents and two county commissioners that developers are considering a location on Blackman Road between Interstate 24 and state Route 840.

Lykens likes the idea of spreading news about the Bible “as long as we don’t get in the Jesus car and go through ‘Spooky Mountain.’” He hopes the park will accurately reflect the Bible.

He and several other ministers shared some opinions about the park.

Lykens said the Bible park could spread the message of the Bible and allow visitors to ask questions and receive explanations of what they see.

Rutherford County would be a good location because it would draw visitors throughout the state and nation easily.

“If they build one, they should probably build a hotel on the property,” Lykens said. “I think it’s good for businesses in the community as well because it will bring people in to spend money. It probably won’t boost church attendance any.”

Developers of the park said it would be non-denominational unlike the Holy Land Experience in Orlando that is denominational.

Assistant Pastor Kurt Copeland of independent Franklin Road Baptist Church said his wife and two young daughters visited the Holy Land Experience about two years ago.

“As a preacher, I loved it,” Copeland said.

The family enjoyed viewing a re-creation of Jesus’ resurrection, the replica of the garden tomb and the hill of Golgotha.

Rev. Copeland likes the idea of having a Bible-based theme park that would bring attention to the Word of God.

Personally, he doesn’t favor the commercialization of the Bible through the park but he knows Christian bookstores profit from the Bible and related merchandise.

“It would be hypocritical to say we don’t like the for-profit park,” the Rev. Copeland said.

He believes students from the Franklin Road Christian School would visit the park on a limited basis.

The Rev. Don Morris of Fellowship United Methodist Church, said he believes any well-thought-out activity that exposes people to the Bible is good.

News accounts about the park’s Bible exhibits such as Moses and the walls of water will be a good thing to demonstrate.

“We’ve all watched Charlton Heston go through the Red Sea” and learned about Jonah and the whale.

“But someone who never read the Bible may go to the park and want to learn more,” the Rev. Morris said. “What a great way to learn.”

Being a profit park doesn’t bother him, the Rev. Morris said, adding churches don’t run free.

“It’s going to be a fun place to go with your family,” the pastor said. “We live in a world where families are pulled in thousands of different directions. This will be a good place for the family to go together.”

The Rev. James Avaritt has been pastor of Bellwood Baptist Church for 23 years. He doesn’t object to the concept of a Bible-themed park.

“I would hope they would built it with respect to the Bible, not having it as a theme and not respecting the Bible,” Avaritt said.

Like other pastors, he knows Bible bookstores make a profit so he doesn’t have a problem with the commercialization of the Bible in a park as long as it represents the Bible.

“I think personally they would do a bigger business if they had a country music theme like Opryland,” the Rev. Avaritt said.