Gatlinburg, Tennessee: Christ in the Smokies Museum and Gardens

I was totally disappointed when I ended up never getting a chance to visit Christus Gardens, so I was really excited that it had reopened under a different name.

They have replaced their famous mystical Jesus statue with a statue of Jesus that kinda looks like it's made of chocolate.

My heart sank when the lady there told me I could not take pictures of the wax exhibits. She instructed that I could take pictures in the Old Testament room, which contained wax figures of Moses and Abraham, but they were nowhere near as cool as the Jesus dioramas.

Each Diorama is rigged with a motion detector so the lights flick on when you walk up to them, and it recites Bible verses. The mannequins are really old school and creepy. Some of the highlights include a diorama of Jesus facing off against Satan, Jesus coming out of his tomb in what looks like a wedding dress, and a moving diorama of Jesus moving through clouds that look like fiberglass insulation.

I would have broken the rules and taken more pictures...but I just couldn't do that to Jesus.

I visited the Christ in the Smokies attraction, in the same location as Christus Gardens was for decades. They have done a fabulous job -- some new and exciting things and some not so good.....

New narration and sets are great -- and in the rotunda, instead of old Bibles and ancient coins -- a couple of wax figures and Powerpoint presentation which is AWESOME...

The only downside I saw was the marble face in the prayer garden is no longer there, and the gift shop has shrunk considerably. But I am very impressed and grateful to those that have brought back such an important part of history to be told once again to all of us. Continue the good work -- GOD BLESS....