Waterbury, Connecticut: Holy Land USA

Holy Land USA was opened to local residents for one day only, Sept. 14, 2014, to raise awareness of recent restoration efforts on its behalf. A mass was even held in its chapel. The attraction is still largely in disrepair, but progress is being made.

Bring hiking shoes and plenty of space on your camera. Also do a tick check when you get back to the car. It truly is awesome.

Finally visited Holy Land. After reading about the potential danger, and seeing all the no trespassing and no parking signs I was a little nervous, more about coming back to find my car towed than anything else, so I kinda rushed through.

It might be good to come back in the fall as I think I probably missed some things hidden by foliage.

Holy Land USA only seems to be providing entertainment for the sac religious at current. The gate is closed, and rusty and there is a No Trespassing sign put up by a construction company. Not so much a place of worship, cause the only way to see the cross without committing a crime is from the highway. Those who like a little religious humor can give a hallelujah for this one.

Recently, the Republican-American (a newspaper in Waterbury) reported that the gigantic, illuminated cross atop Holy Land USA is going to be coming down in February, 2008 due to disrepair and vandalism. There are plans in the works to replace it, but if it is replaced, the new cross will either be outlined in light or illuminated by spotlights. It will not be the plexiglass, internally lit structure it is now.