The Great Passion Play: Signs of the Times?

DeweyBald · December 04, 2012, 12:08:24 AM

I agree...this is sad news. Eureka used to be a nice change a pace where one could go and simply kick back and relax. Not so anymore. The last couple of times we were there was pretty disappointing to say the least. I have no interest in Harley Davidson costumes and hate the fact that you cannot enjoy a quite meal outdoors without some idiot going down mainstreet with straight pipes acting like they have a hot bike. They (the city), and many of you may think that is where the money is, but the numbers prove otherwise. Closed stores, hotels and now this....what a shame.

Junior · December 04, 2012, 08:12:42 AM

Sad news. The KY3 piece said the contents of the art and Bible museums have been confiscated and will be sold off. Very, very sad news. Will they have a "garage" sale to get rid gift shop stuff and other items? If they do, I'd love to go and see what I can pick up.

chittlins · December 04, 2012, 11:15:04 AM

Quote from: DeweyBald on December 04, 2012, 12:08:24 AM
I agree...this is sad news. Eureka used to be a nice change a pace where one could go and simply kick back and relax. Not so anymore. The last couple of times we were there was pretty disappointing to say the least. I have no interest in Harley Davidson costumes and hate the fact that you cannot enjoy a quite meal outdoors without some idiot going down mainstreet with straight pipes acting like they have a hot bike. They (the city), and many of you may think that is where the money is, but the numbers prove otherwise. Closed stores, hotels and now this....what a shame.

You'll get no arguement from me. They went all bikes and have a large gay community. If you are not part of this Eureka isn't much for you these days. There's some good restuarants that some of us hit every so often mainly, but it's more and more a bar scene.

Junior · December 04, 2012, 02:28:59 PM

Eureka has long been an artist and writers colony, and, over the years, has become known as a "gay community," probably the "gay center" in Arkansas. The city government has long been a hot bed, where officials argue with each other, and there is an "alternative lifestyle weekend" each year that the town welcomes people to attend. Citizens and city government folk have discussed such things as decriminalization of marijuana, and other controversial subjects. The town apparently had an "in city limits deer hunt" to thin out the wildlife, which has become a nusance. Eureka has a long, unusual history, and, like other towns, will continue to change as people change. I agree that even though it is a tourist town, when you push so many biker events, when you have alternative lifestyle events, that will turn off many, many people. Eureka has had a lot of closed shops, businesses, and so on, and it is too bad. The Great Passion Play and the associated museums, shops, and so on, made for one of the largest tourist businesses in town, and now it is gone. I wonder if the Texans Dinner Theater at the Passion Play is gone, too? The other two music shows in town are struggling as well. I do love the old historic buildings, the galleries, the restaurants, music shows, and other activities like Thorncrown Chapel, Onyx Cave, Leatherwoods Park, Pivot Rock, but the loss of the Passion Play is a great loss. Dinosaur World is now joined by the Passion Play as a dead zone in the community.

KBCraig · December 04, 2012, 09:39:41 PM

Even when the Passion Play was at its peak of fame, in the late '70s, Eureka Springs was full of pagans and witches and leftover hippies. It's always been the San Francisco of the South, never a straight-laced Christian conservative town like Branson.

If not for the bikers, I think the town would be completely dead by now, tourism-wise. It was always out of the way to get to; the other destinations in the area have just gotten easier to get to, comparatively.

Junior · December 06, 2012, 12:38:30 PM

Big write up about this topic in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette yesterday. Pretty much the same things in article as previously discussed. Locals hope a buyer can be found...they were one of the bigger employers in Eureka. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

chittlins · December 10, 2012, 12:49:14 PM

Couple of more articles in the ADG today. It basically is the folks that ran the PP saying the town's restrictions on tour busses and it's gay rights advocacy measures has made it hostile to church groups. I'm not getting into whether that is right or wrong but it is a factor.

Can't help but think that SOTH found provide something similar with more success in Branson.

Junior · December 14, 2012, 11:32:43 AM

Another ADG article today says donors have given funds to re-light the Christ of the Ozarks statue, at least through the Christmas season. Seems they could not stand the thought of the statue being in the dark. Donations can be made to keep the statue lit as things with the Passion Play property continue to change and develop. Right now, everything else is closed, empty, and up for sale. If you have a spare five to six million, the entire place is yours!

Junior · December 18, 2012, 11:09:41 AM

Read an article in the Springdale, AR newspaper that said the Christ of the Ozarks statue is now lit up again at night...enough donations came in to take care of that issue. Now, anyone with a spare $5 million want to buy the entire Passion Play grounds? Ah, come on, while you are at it, we will throw in nearby Dinosaur World for an additional $200,000. It's a steal! However, since vandals torched the Dinosaur World Gift Shop, you will have to rebuild it.

$:-\$

Junior · December 29, 2012, 11:14:29 AM

Another article in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette says Randle Christy, top dog at The Gospel Station Network of Ada, OK, is trying to raise $75,000 that is the interest on the money owed on the Passion Play deficit. If raised, he plans on getting control of the facility and reopening in the spring. Christy is also pastor at Union Valley Baptist Church at Ada. He raised just over $9,400 at a meeting Thursday in Eureka Springs. On Friday, donation level had reached just under $17,000, according to Mike Bishop (Pine Mt. Theater) Eureka's C of C president. Christy says the play is $2.9 million in debt to Cornerstone Bank. He says he'll give $100,000 in free publicity to the Passion Play on his radio network of 25 stations that operate in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Christy says improvements need to be made to the play each year, and that in 2013, volunteers will have to give their service at the play to help keep things going. Oh, by the way, the $75,000 is due in full on MONDAY.
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Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see the play continue, but frankly, it sounds to me like Christy is expanding his empire. It is a known fact Gospel fans are extremely loyal, and to have 25 radio stations in states that have always been important to tourism in the Ozarks is a way for him to build up the business and reap the benefits. Plus, he probably will pick up the defunct business as a bargain basement price, and will have volunteers to run it at no cost, at least at first. We will see what happens here.
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One more thing...I thought the Bible Museum on the Passion Play grounds had a copy of the rare Gutenburg Bible. Seems to me if they would go to Christies Auction House in New York and auction this one item their money problems would be over. Any thoughts?

chittlins · December 29, 2012, 11:28:53 AM

Quote from: Junior on December 29, 2012, 11:14:29 AM
Another article in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette says Randle Christy, top dog at The Gospel Station Network of Ada, OK, is trying to raise $75,000 that is the interest on the money owed on the Passion Play deficit. If raised, he plans on getting control of the facility and reopening in the spring. Christy is also pastor at Union Valley Baptist Church at Ada. He raised just over $9,400 at a meeting Thursday in Eureka Springs. On Friday, donation level had reached just under $17,000, according to Mike Bishop (Pine Mt. Theater) Eureka's C of C president. Christy says the play is $2.9 million in debt to Cornerstone Bank. He says he'll give $100,000 in free publicity to the Passion Play on his radio network of 25 stations that operate in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Christy says improvements need to be made to the play each year, and that in 2013, volunteers will have to give their service at the play to help keep things going. Oh, by the way, the $75,000 is due in full on MONDAY.
---
Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see the play continue, but frankly, it sounds to me like Christy is expanding his empire. It is a known fact Gospel fans are extremely loyal, and to have 25 radio stations in states that have always been important to tourism in the Ozarks is a way for him to build up the business and reap the benefits. Plus, he probably will pick up the defunct business as a bargain basement price, and will have volunteers to run it at no cost, at least at first. We will see what happens here.
---
One more thing...I thought the Bible Museum on the Passion Play grounds had a copy of the rare Gutenburg Bible. Seems to me if they would go to Christies Auction House in New York and auction this one item their money problems would be over. Any thoughts?

Thought I had read that the Bible collection was already getting broke up.

This is tounge in cheek but a half serious suggestion as well. The folks behind the Noah's Ark themepark idea thats been floated in Tenn and now Kentucky should look into this and move the concept here and incorporate it there. Lots of the property around the place seems to be for sell as well.

http://arkencounter.com/

But hey, during the car company bailout, I though they should let Chrysler go under and have someone buy the Jeep division and Hummer Division from GM and merge them into a focused brand complete with atvs and utility vehicles. My ideas are different.

Junior · January 01, 2013, 08:47:53 AM

Has anyone heard if they raised the $75,000 by Monday's deadline? Hmmmmm.

biscuitcreek · January 02, 2013, 08:04:57 AM

Quote from: Junior on January 01, 2013, 08:47:53 AM
Has anyone heard if they raised the $75,000 by Monday's deadline? Hmmmmm.

One of the north Arkansas radio stations reported this morning that the deadline was extended to noon today since the banks were closed on January 1st.

Ozarks Gal · January 03, 2013, 08:37:13 AM

I heard on KY3 this morning on my out the door that the Gospel Network did indeed raise the funds. There is an article on the site from last night saying they were close, but no updated story online yet.

biscuitcreek · January 03, 2013, 08:37:42 AM

The $75,000 was raised to prevent the foreclosure. However, another $200,000 must be raised in order to open for the 2013 season. One article I read online said that more volunteers and less paid staff/cast would be necessary in order to put on a play in 2013.

http://www.hometowndailynews.com/13143/effort_now_begins_to_open_great_passion_play_for_2013_season.html