A group of townhomes now sits where the waterpark had been located. However, many of the other structures have been torn down. Amid the controversy surrounding Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, construction halted on a 21-story hotel on the park grounds. At its peak, it was the third most popular theme park in the country and received approximately six million visitors per year. It expanded to encompass 2,300 acres at a value in excess of $125 million. ' Louise Hickman Lione, Vacationland for Pilgrims of PTL Club. At its core, PTL is the story of a group of people committed to religious innovation, who pushed the boundaries of evangelical religion's engagement with American culture.

It offered a water park, train, prayer chapel, shopping areas, rides, and more. The Rise and Fall of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's Evangelical Empire John H. PTL is more than just the spectacular story of the rise and fall of the Bakkers, John Wigger traces their lives from humble beginnings to wealth, fame, and eventual disgrace.

Wigger, PTL: The Rise and Fall of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's Evangelical Empire (New York: Oxford University. The income from the Bakker's PTL (Praise the Lord) Satellite Television Network allowed them to build the Christian theme park Heritage USA, dubbed the 'Christian Disney World,' on the border of North and South Carolina. Lee, America's New Preacher, 6869 John H. Author of Taking heaven by storm, Francis Asbury, Methodism and the shaping of American culture, American Saint, PTL. While investigating The Eyes of Tammy Faye's historical accuracy, we discovered that approximately 13 million households subscribed to the PTL (Praise the Lord) Satellite Television Network at the peak of its 14-year history.ĭid Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker really start a Christian theme park?

PTL by John H. Wigger