‘lnspirational’ park popular

Press, 10 January 1987, Page 22

‘lnspirational’ park popular

By

JOHN BURNETT Of

Reuters (through NZPA) Fort Mill, South Carolina Nestled in the gentle hills of South Carolina is a tourist resort which has been called the “Disney World of Christian fundamentalism.” Welcome to Heritage U.S.A., a combination evangelical church, amusement park,

religious Broadcast headquarters and country club. Its founder, the television evangelist, Jim Bakker, describes his creation as a "twenty-first century inspirational park for the entire family.” His Praise the Lord Television Network, known as PTL, is based at the sprawling complex and draws a large audience of Christian funda-

mentalists. Heritage U.S.A. promises fun and salvation for Christians willing to pay the price, Mr Bakker’s aides say. Luxury hotel rooms start at $144 a night, and affluent church groups pay thousands of dollars more for facilities for prayer meetings and religious conferences. Heritage U.S.A.’s mana-

gers estimate that around five million people visited the complex last year, making it a major tourist attraction. Mr Bakker’s empire has invested $2BB million in the complex, mostly from donations made by PTL viewers responding to televised appeals from the evangelist and his singing wife, Tammy Faye

Bakker. “For several years now we've been accused of being the Christian Disney World,” said the Rev. Richard Dortch, PTL vice-president, in an interview in the network’s pyramid-like headquarters at the complex. “In fact, we’ve learned to live with that, and we think it’s a good identity.”