Waterbury, Connecticut: Holy Land USA

The order of Nuns who own Holy Land USA, Waterbury, CT, have gone public about the first plans to "restore" the closed and decimated religious theme park. Unfortunately, at this time it appears to only include the installation of a single life-size Virgin Mary statue.

Well, it's me again with more info on the Holy Land USA fix up. I went up to Holy Land today (July 4th,1999) and saw the Catacombs GONE! BOY WAS I SURPRISED! BUT THAT IS THE ONLY THING IN HOLY LAND THAT HAS CHANGED. And the nuns put new siding ON their Houses. WOW WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT FOR HOLY LAND! The nuns have nice houses! Just wanted to drop you a line with a little info. As always, the more I know, you'll be first to know.

Just wanted to let you know a movement is underway to restore Holy Land USA to its former state. The Holy Land Convent is occupied by two Catholic Sisters, and as an indication of the ongoing interest in the site I'll relate this story.

Recently, the key to the mechanism which illuminates the Cross was misplaced and it was dark for a few nights. Sister Angeline received 100s of concerned phone calls inquiring what the problem was and when the Cross would be back on. A gentleman actually donated a large sum to pay for the electricity. So, it shows that in Waterbury as everywhere people take comfort in outward signs of His presence.

A weekly Holy Hour is held in Peace Hall and with the help of volunteers, the refurbishing of the chapel and grounds has begun. I'm sure it will be a long road, but with God's grace the results will be well worth all the efforts. Take Care; God Bless!

Enterprising Waterbury Boy Scouts organized an ambitious community service project in late 1997 to attain the coveted rank of Eagle Scout. At the center of the project was the restoration of Waterbury's weirdest and best known landmark -- the giant Hollywood-style sign that marks the hilltop location of "Holy Land USA"

"I was born in 1962 and I remember the bright cross on the hill. It was green until the late sixties...then it was yellow. It was so much a part of the fabric of Waterbury that it didn't seem unusual."

"Like all good Catholics (actually that's Irish-Catholic-Democrat-Red Sox fan), I made the pilgrimage every year of my youth to the place my father called Pine Hill. He told a man named John Greco, a Waterbury lawyer created it. Greco chose the law over the church, but remained a dedicated Catholic.Most of Holy Land was rather crude. Lot's wife was a pillar of concrete with a hand drawn reference to the Old testament. The hill contained dozens (maybe over one hundred) small exhibits."

"When Greco died, the Church inherited the land. They seemed embarassed by Greco's work. In 1984, I was Program Director of WWCO, the local AM station. A local group of Catholics discussed "big plans" for the site, but it was the last time I was there."