Abandoned Heritage USA Theme Park Tour - What Remains of Failed PTL Attractions / Inside Main Street

Comments · 725

• TH

  @TheDailyWoo · 4 years ago · pinned

  Ive always been fascinated by this place . The good , bad and really bizarre history is a deep rabbit hole to go down . Thanks to Carolina Tony and Scott on Tape for hanging out

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• FU

  @FUSE1_MUSIC · 4 years ago

  I went to a Christian school in the 90s and Jerry Falwell was the speaker at my graduation, I’m from Charlotte

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• GS

  @gspeakman · 4 years ago

  My family used to vacation at Heritage USA.  Despite all of the drama that ended up happening, it was such a wonderful place to visit when I was a teenager.  There was so much stuff to do there, plus it was also close to Carowinds which was definitely a plus.  I remember one time being in a shop there where they rented sports equipment, and Jim Bakker was in there.  There were people showing him different pictures for Tammy's upcoming album.  Of course, they were going on about how pretty she looked in each, and Jim looked up at us and was laughing at the fuss they were making.  Also, when we were in the Heritage Grand Hotel, we passed by Kim Fields (Tootie from the Facts of Life) as she was leaving the hotel.

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• TE

  @TerryB751 · 4 years ago (edited)

  I remember when Jessica Hahn made the rounds to Orlando and signed Playboys as well. People were lined up with their mags to be signed. I was there with a camera to catch the action. That's about the time that Marie Osmond was touring and was in the Cheyenne Saloon on Church Street in Orlando back in the day. I remember they had to put small signs that said "Orlando" on all sides of the stage so Marie could remember where she was because she was touring all over. It would be a little embarrassing for her to say "It's great to be in Nashville" or some such thing.

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• JE

  @jeremyharris1547 · 4 years ago

  Having grown up during the hayday of this park and the whole televangelist era brings back so many memories.

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• GU

  @Guitarlordkm · 4 years ago

  That guy was saying, "You got a purdy mouth" but Woo cut it off hahaha.

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• TO

  @tod3msn · 3 years ago

  My late beloved mom found comfort in Jim and Tammy’s show as she recovered from her colon cancer operation in the 1990’s. Jim and Tammy will be kind memories to me.

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• CH

  @chadglasner4755 · 4 years ago

  The Bakkers were in their own little world towards the end. The amount of ego that went into this park is out of the world.

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• BR

  @BritTV7053BrittneyLewis · 4 years ago

  My church youth group spent a week in the campgrounds in the summer of 1987. &nbsp;We were all basically turned loose inside that park and we went a little wild! &nbsp;My group was the oldest at 12 to 14 yr olds and we were the only group allowed to roam without chaperones! <br>I have a glitter filled pen from there I have to find!!!! My bunk mate was dared to steal it from the gift shop and she did! &nbsp;<br>I have no idea how I ended up w/it. &nbsp;We were such heathens back then!😂<br>It was absolutely amazing with the skating rink, the train, the water park. It was better than being st Ft. Wilderness and we couldn’t figure out how come nobody could save this amazing park. Thank you for bringing back a great memory from my youth!

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• KE

  @Keliimaoli · 4 years ago (edited)

  Awesome footage Adam, I always wondered what the Heritage USA buildings looked like in recent years. Back in 1995 My Parents and I went to go check out Heritage USA (we were visiting Family), I was a teenager at the time and didnt know the backstory behind PTL, both my Parents were in the Ministry, but they never followed the bakkers or supported their ministry (personal reasons I guess). <br><br>I remember going to the Upper Room, and being fascinated by the architecture, the interior was beautiful, with 5 or so &quot;prayer closets&quot; for those who felt the need to pray. I also am glad Main Street still looks the same as it did back then, there were a few small shops still running back then. Keep in mind when I was there, in 95 it was a good 6 years abandoned, the whole vibe of the place however was very sad and somber, as if you just came back from a Funeral, I remember seeing the water slide and castle, but the whole exterior to the theme park area seemed very post apocalyptic in nature. <br><br>One place that I never forgot was the Pyramid shaped building, which was the PTL World Outreach Center. I remember walking up to the doors, looking thru the glass window and seeing the entire building full of boxes and sheets over the furniture. <br><br>Glad to see the Barn Auditorium still intact and used. That building as well as the PTL &quot;pyramid&quot; building were not locked, my parents didnt allow it, but I wanted to explore those buildings so bad. &nbsp;<br><br>In an Ironic twist the video you made back in 2011 was the first &nbsp;ATW video I ever saw, and been a follower of yours ever since.

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• MR

  @MrQuicksand75 · 4 years ago

  My grandmother would take me and my sister there almost every year when is was open. I remember swimming in the pool inside hotel, we played with Jay baker at the pool.

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• TH

  @thebluetarp · 4 years ago (edited)

  This place had an epic water park. Back in the 80’s I used to send postcards to theme parks requesting information because my family was planning a trip to the area. Of course that wasn’t true. Man I tell you the stuff theme parks would send. Maps, stickers, bumper stickers, etc. I even got giant fold out maps sometimes. I wish I had saved all that stuff. I remember getting info on this place and the water park and their rock mountain always looked awesome to me. I was in high school in the 80’s, graduated in 1987. I would come home every day and first thing I would say to my mom was “did I get any mail”. But I would say it so fast it sounded like I was saying “doggie mail”. To this day I still say doggie mail. It’s a running joke with my mom...thanks Adam for another awesome v8deo.

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