Waterbury’s Holy Land USA Named Connecticut’s Worst Tourist Trap

So, the travel site Far & Wide has compiled a list of the worst tourist traps in all 50 states and they've named CT's worst is "Holy Land USA."

Holy Land was built in Waterbury as a Bible Theme Park back in 1955 and was open for about 30 years. Catholic lawyer, John Baptist Greco, built the park with the help of his organization the Companions of Christ. Depictions of Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Christ's tomb were built as they looked during Jesus' day.

During the peak years in the 60s and early 70s, Holy Land attracted about 40,000 people a year. They came to see the recreation of the Garden of Eden, Jesus' Cross and replicas of the catacombs and Israelite villages.

In 2013, Waterbury mayor, Neil O'Leary, pledged his financial support to the site, a new cross was purchased, and on December 22, 2013, the cross was illuminated. On September 14, 2014, the park was officially opened back up to the public.

I have to respectfully disagree with this list. How is Holy Land a tourist trap? Maybe it was JUST that when the amusement park was open in the 60s, but when I think of a tourist trap, I think of a place that is operational and seeks to get hold of your money. Holy Land does not have a gift shop that I am aware of and leaving that place is as easy as turning around and saying this is lame.

Furthermore, the place is "abandoned." Abandoned places are creepy and interesting. I'm embarrassed to say I've never been there, and I may have to change that really soon. That or I'll just watch more YouTube videos about it and save the twelve dollars gas money.

Other "tourist traps" on the list include New York's Rockefeller Center skating rink and New Jersey's Lucy the Elephant.

The abandoned park is not as scary as Josh's hairdo. Scarier than the hair is the amount of times Josh says "guys."