Lucedale, Mississippi - Palestine Gardens

Palestinian Gardens is a really unique experience, especially for southern Mississippi. They have been around since 1960, and seem to be doing fine. I only drove up to the gate because I was on my way back to school in Arkansas, but it looks pretty impressive. They have guided tours daily and there's also a theater and a chapel. It's 5 miles off of HWY 98. There's free admission March through November. [Sarah, 03/22/2008]

[RA: Referred to as "A Living Map of Palestine," it is 20 acres transformed since 1960 into a scale model of the Holy Land (scale: 1 yard = 1 mile). Run as more ministry than tourist attraction, though we have a couple of brochures and souvenir booklets on file. It's larger, though not as intricately crafted as the Ave Maria Grotto. And Palestinian Gardens is in constant struggle with lush foliage, threatening to overgrow and swallow up tiny towns and scenes of the life of Christ, from Bethlehem to Calvary. But the owners have kept it open and operating for 50 years! Tours last about an hour.]

Palestine Gardens is a miniature reproduction of the Holy Land constructed from cinder blocks and decorative landscaping stones. It includes the major cities of Biblical legend. The Gardens run a 1/4 mile, and guided tours are available. [Burke Williamson, 04/25/2006]