Theme Parks

This chapter examines the phenomenon of biblically inspired theme parks. Like Disney and other variants, biblical theme parks create experiential portals to other lifeworlds. They imagine, materialize, and choreograph stories from Christians’ sacred texts in order to heighten visitors’ relation of intimacy with scripture by conjuring particular, ideologically charged scriptural pasts. To illustrate this argument, the chapter outlines the history of the modern theme park and presents a case study analysis of a creationist theme park in the US state of Kentucky: Ark Encounter. Ethnographic work with park designers and participant observation at the park demonstrates how this site of religious tourism mobilizes strategies and imperatives of immersion that are resonant with the culture of entertainment more broadly.