ORLANDO, Fla. — Holy Land Experience is having financial difficulties. The Christian-themed attraction is still open, but it's selling off some high-end assets, including a Harley motorcycle.
The attraction is tax exempt because it runs as a ministry.
But Channel 9’s Kathi Belich found some information in the park's reports to the IRS.
The attraction suffered losses two of the last three years, and the third year it was close, but it came out in the black.
Despite the losses, employee salaries and benefits went up by more than $1 million over the three years, even though there were fewer employees.
The Holy Land Experience’s mission statement, according to its IRS records, says, in part, that it promotes "using all appropriate means. The need for personal salvation through Jesus the Lord."
Jan and Paul Crouch, who founded the Trinity Broadcast Network, also owned Holy Land until their deaths a few years ago.
It's still in the family, but it's a family divided over accusations of lavish spending, poor record keeping and a rape cover up, Belich found out.
The theme park saves about $390,000 in annual property taxes, thanks to a religious exemption law.
CEO Paul Crouch was paid $400,000. His wife, Jan, who is the president, was paid $364,000, and their son, Paul Jr., was paid $256,000.
TBN owns about 20 homes from California to Texas to Tennessee and in Florida, including a few $2 million homes in Windermere.
Belich also found out that the Crouch family and other TBN leaders travel on a company-owned "bombardier" jet.
Cox Media Group
