Bible park open house

In a push to aliviate the angry, or to tell people of the inevitable, the people behind the Bible park are going to have three open houses to answer all of your questions.

Officials for Bible Park USA have scheduled three public open houses to inform members of the community about the Bible Park themed attraction planned for northwestern Rutherford County.

The sessions, set for Feb. 11 and 12, will be held in La Vergne, Smyrna and Murfreesboro, and will provide an opportunity for citizens to ask questions, provide comments, and obtain information about the educational, entertainment and historical venue being planned for the area.
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The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

The open house dates, times, locations and schedule follows:

• Monday, Feb.11, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in La Vergne at the City of La Vergne’s Multi-Purpose Building, 5093 Murfreesboro Rd. (behind La Vergne City Hall)

• Tuesday, Feb. 12, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 pm in Smyrna at the Smyrna Town Centre, 100 Sam Ridley Pkwy.

• Tuesday, Feb. 12, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Murfreesboro at the Lane Agri-Park at 315 John R. Rice Blvd.

I know a lot of people are against this park, but the beliefs of many are based on hearsay and second hand tales of the coming destruction of their quiet rural lifestyles. This can be the time you finally get all..or at least most of your questions answered.

Bible Park update

We have commented on the Bible Park that may be coming to the Blackman area. For some there are more questions that they feel have not been answered. Armon Bar-Tur, the head of the Bible Park project plans on having some open dialogue to answer them according to this WGNS article.

Bar-Tur indicated that he hopes to request county approval for the theme park before the end of this year. However, he insists on conducting a series of information sessions to answer questions the public might have before asking for zoning approval.

Most people do not know, but this is not Armon Bar-Tur's first park. He was involved as one of the partners who put together the Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach.

Armon Bar-Tur '92, managing member of SafeHarbor Holding LLC said, "I am proud to partner with Ziel Feldman in putting together this distinguished group of investors including Africa Israel Investments and Polar International Real Estate to join us in creating this exciting park. This fusion of a great brand, great location and superior management team will ensure the success of this venture."

Note that Hard Rock Park is an amusement park, while the proposed Bible Park is a theme park.

Bible Park -

I went to the YMCA and viewed the broadcast of WGNS's Smyrna Radio show.

I asked a few questions during commercials, and a few specifics were answered.

The main confusion with many is the type of park that he wants to build. Many have in their head an image of an amusement park. Roller coasters, Ferris wheels, and bumper cars. While these are the norm for amusement parks, what Armon Bar-Tur is building is a theme park. A good example of a theme park is Cannonsburgh in Murfreesboro. With the theme of the Bible, they are going to have a real working Canaanite village, plus many more historical sections.

Also included will be an Imax theatre with a special extended screen that folds all the way under you. Their plan is that you "fly" around the middle east to see the Pyramids, Babylon and the sites of the Holy Land.

I asked how many people it would employ. Armon said it would start with about 200 full time up to 250 when fully running. It will also employ 1000 part time seasonal workers.

One person called into the show and asked about "skyline pollution". With no Ferris wheels or roller coasters, this will not be a real problem.

He also answered the big issue. Taxes and the possible financial liability of the county. For the most part he did answer the question. I'm still leery about any connections between a private business and government taxes, but it's not worthy of me coming out against the park.