Friday 7 November 2008

America - Heritage USA

At one time Heritage USA was the third most visited attraction in the States, after Disneyland and Walt Disney World. That was in 1986, now, less than 10 years later, it was fighting a losing battle against becoming a wilderness. 2,300 acres of anti-climax. To give you an idea of the size, you could fit the original Disneyland, UK's Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Six Flags Great America, and Universal Studio's Florida all inside the grounds together, and still have room for a few Wembley stadiums (stadia?) left over.

At myinsistence we had travelled to Fort Mills in South Carolina to visit televangelist Jim Bakker's Christian theme park. I had seen a documentary about it sometime earlier and, admittedly with an eye on satire, was keen to see the place. It had boasted a 501-room Grand Hotel, Main Street Shoppes (sic), the Heritage Village Church, a 400-unit campground, an amphitheater, conference facilities, prayer and counseling services, full TV production studios, Bible and evangelism school, visitor retreat housing, staff and volunteer housing, and the vast Heritage Island Water Park and recreational facilities including tennis, fishing and a petting zoo. At one time the Passion was enacted daily and you could visit the Upper Room.

The water park, which had once been the centre piece of the whole place was now derelict, a mass of pastel coloured concrete. The huge Typhoon water slide, down which it was possible to reach speeds of up to 40 mph, was clearly visible. We found a swimming pool nearby that was still functional and the party I was with had a swim. I was anxious to look around.

We found our way to an indoor shopping street that was lit as if it were a star-lit night. It had the best Christian tat for sale I've ever seen. You could insert pictures of your children meeting a suspiciously European looking Jesus in to an oil painting. There were King James Bibles for your Gameboy and enough Olive wood crosses to build an ark. The fast food restaurant sold Goliath burgers and Moses milkshakes. Fantastic.

I won't go in to the history of Heritage USA, you can find the details on the web easily enough. It is enough to say that its demise was wrapped up in some dubious financial dealing, a sex scandal, and some bitter infighting between various high profile televangelists. All very sad and distinctly 'unchristian'. At the heart of it all was Jimmy and Tammy Faye Bakker's PTL organisation.

So why was I so interested in Heritage USA? Why, aside from a chance to feel pompously superior and to gape at fallen extravagance, had I dragged our party to this now rather sad place? Two words. Kevin's House.

Kevin was a severely disabled teenager who had been adopted by some relative of the Bakker's. Jim and Tammy Faye raised millions of dollars to have a house built for him. Now, the facts are murky and hard to come by even with the internet at my finger tips, but I seem to remember that there was some question as to where all the money went. (Surprised?) But most amazing to me was the rumour that the house had been built all right, but that there was very limited disabled access. I had heard that poor Kevin had to be manhandled up the stairs to his room. I wanted the truth. Kevin, who died a little while after the house was built was regularly wheeled out to ask for money on the PTL television show, uttering the immortal words “they wouldn't ask unless they needed it.”

Well, the house was there. I saw it with my own eyes. But I couldn't gain access. It was closed to the gawping public. I will probably never know now. The house burned down in 2002. Arson was suspected. So, if you know the truth please let me know. Was the house wheelchair friendly? Was it all a fund raising con?

Heritage USA has been broken up into smaller concerns today, I'm told. Tammy Faye died last year and I can't be bothered to find out about Jim Bakker.

Next time – The last plane out of Georgia.

18 comments:

  1. You got me thinking there mate and I did a little wandering around the Internet!!Blige but some of the 'big' evangelists are going to have some answering to do when it comes to the day of reckoning.

    I'd stick to being a Methodist if I was you buddy!!

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  2. I visited Heritage USA as a child, and you couldn't near Kevin's House then either. Since the house was a private dwelling (and built pre-ADA "Americans with Disibilities Act") it wouldn't suprise me if it lacked proper accomodations.

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  3. We all have different feelings about Heritage USA. Not looking at the fall, While in action, Heritage USA performed a fabulous Christian teaching. The loss of the compound is still felt today.
    Can anyone tell me where, on the property, Kevins house actually stood? Looking from the satelite imagery does not give the secret away. Heritage Island sure looks empty with the water park missing now.

    You are right, the 2300 acre property has been cut up at least by 3 companies now. The Ministry is planning on keeping the buildings that are standing and still solid construction. The other two are contractors so who knows what will happen to the property they are responsible for.

    Good site.

    JAO

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  4. An online petition has been created by Friends of The Upper Room to show support for the current owners of The Upper Room at Heritage USA in their bid to save the building from being demolished.

    It's located at:
    http://www.petitiononline.com/HUSA2009/petition.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Lord bless the lady who initiated this petition to save the upper room. Do not be deceived; the upper room would have been demolished; it it were not for her and others who care about the upper room and prayer.

      Delete
  5. Earl & Sabrina Coulston are good people - devout Christians with a heart for missions work. I know that they will do everything within their power to save the Upper Room and see that it ends up in the proper hands so it can be restored and reopened.

    I cannot imagine this building being torn down. The mere thought is sacriledge!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are either delusional, deceived, or part of the horrible subversive anti-Christ cult that this couple has been propagating in Regent Park for many years.
      They use their "Christianity" as a front and a way to deceive many innocent and gullible people.

      Delete
  6. Earl and Sabrina Coulston need to take care of the community surround Heritage that they started to have built. Mr. coulston was supposed to install a playground for Regal Manor community, it is on the plat map with the county but he will not build it and claims he never said he would. Also they are delinquent in all of their property taxes owed to York County but he sits as the President on the Board of Directors for the HOA and expects us to pay our money, when he renigs on promises and can't pay his own dues. Where are you Mr. Coulston, give us what you promised and pay your dues.

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    Replies
    1. Amen and amen. I pray that all of the illicit activities of this couple will be exposed and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
      They are bullies, and they need to go. Then Regent Park can become a great place to live without the harassment, control and crime.

      Delete
  7. Hello, I enjoy reading your web page, and I appreciate all the pictures. I just wanted to let you know that I and my family were VERY close to the Whittum family. Who if you dont remember, were Kevins adopted parents. We spent 2 weeks out of every year living in Kevins house with the Whittums. That was the most fun house i have EVER been in! The idea that the house was not wheelchair friendly is totally wrong! It had a spectacular elevator! (which i was not supposed to ride but did anyway) I would go exploring in the house and get lost, and to find my way back i would have to go outside and go to the front of the house. Kevin was supposed to live in the tower wing at the end of the house, but the night before they moved in someone broke in to the tower sliding doors and stole some of his sound equipment. So they had to give him a room upstairs with everybody else. BTW Kevin enjoyed being carried around the house, but his favorite and funniest was his rolling! He was a hoot! I miss him sooooo much. I have lots of pictures of the house inside as well as out, and video too.

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  8. FYI- The Whittums were NOT related to the Bakers in anyway.

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  9. Earl & Sabrina Coulston are GOOD people. Earl is a real estate developer and like everyone else he needs to make money. I think people need to stop criticizing him and look at how much money these good people have already sunk into what once was Heritage USA. Earl is a man of great integrity and I'm sure that anything he's promised, he will live up to. We should thank these people for all that they've done at Heritage. They have been working hard for years to save the Upper Room and continue to do so. I wish God's richest blessings upon them both and THANK THEM for all of their efforts; specifically all that they are doing to try to salvage the Upper Room.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Anonymous,
      You are either greatly deceived or on their payroll.

      Delete
  10. Amen to that! Thank you Sabrina & Earl for saving the Heritage Grand Hotel, saving the studios and working diligently to try to save The Upper Room. I pray for you both every day and I know God is working miracles in your lives and granting you everything that you will need to reopen The Upper Room before the end of this year. God bless the both of you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If it had been up to Sabrina and Earl Coulston; the upper room would have been torn down a long time ago.
      However, a wonderful woman named Dorothy saved it through her petition. Please give credit to where it is due.
      May The Lord Jesus Christ bless Dorothy and all those that signed the petition to save the upper room.

      Delete
  11. Kevin's House was a real place and was absolutely handicpapped accessible which my wife and I along with our disabled son witnessed first hand. The bedrooms each had a private bath with wheelin shower. There is a u-tube video of Kevin giving a tour which was used in the fundraising. In it he wheels into his bedroom which was on the first floor. We don't remember if there was an elevator to the second floor or not. The house was built as advertised!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I noticed several bogus posts on this page which say that Sabrina and Earl Coulston are "good" people.
    These fake posts and resumes are placed in various forums and website to attempt to whitewash, deceive, and confuse innocent citizens of Regent Park.
    Please do not be deceived.
    Why doesn't this area have a normal police dept. instead of one run by the local so-called Christian ministry. That is highly irregular.
    It was advertised as being a luxury townhouse. In fact, it isn't up to the lowest standards in
    building code regulations.
    I have been gang stalked in Glen Ridge since moving here in 2005.
    There needs to be an investigation as to why this Regent Park property is not in a regular municipality, and how was it "acquired" by Earl Coulston. Why doesn't it have a normal police department?

    ReplyDelete
  13. I noticed several bogus posts on this page which say that Sabrina and Earl Coulston are "good" people.
    These fake posts and resumes are placed in various forums and websites to attempt to whitewash, deceive, and confuse innocent citizens who do not know the truth.
    Please do not be deceived.
    Why doesn't this area have a normal police department instead of one run by the local so-called Christian ministry. That is highly irregular.
    My townhome on Torrey Pines Lane was advertised as being a luxury townhouse. In fact, it is not up to the lowest standards in
    building code regulations.
    I have been gang stalked here in Glen Ridge since moving here in 2005.
    There needs to be an investigation as to why this Regent Park property is not in a regular municipality, and how was it "acquired" by Earl Coulston.
    This property needs to come under the auspices of a real law enforcement department, such as the Fort Mill Police Department.
    The crime in Regent Park/Glen Ridge is increasing.
    We need an investigation into the management and ownership of Regent Park, and also we need a change for law, order and decency.

    ReplyDelete

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