Developers propose religious theme park in Mesquite

Saturday, July 19, 1997 | 2:02 a.m.

Partners with Nevada-based Quorum International Ltd. say they have much of the financial backing needed to build their $1.6 billion Holy Land Theme Park on 3,200 acres bordering, of course, the Virgin River.

Daxx Edder, the company's chief executive officer, says he has faith his group will be able to negotiate a transfer of the federal land through the city of Mesquite.

City officials support the plan, he said.

But three City Council members said Friday they never heard of the proposal.

"Certainly nobody has talked to me about it," said Councilwoman Alice Fessenden. "I'm just wondering how are they going to mix Jesus in with these casinos."

Edder, who keeps offices in Las Vegas and British Columbia, said building the theme park has been his dream since a friend suggested it in 1938.

He and his Canadian partner, Stephan Venczel, say the for-profit, nondenominational facility will "promote better understanding among men," or at least among the 50 million tourists they expect will visit Holy Land annually. Last year, Las Vegas just passed the 30 million visitor mark.

The duo said they chose Mesquite because the area long has been an American Indian religious ground. Besides, the terrain resembles Israel, Edder noted.

"The whole area has an uplifting feeling about it, a spiritual tone," he said of Mesquite. "The people seem inordinarily close to God."

Mesquite is where a citizens group called HOME, or Help Our Moral Environment, worked around the clock for years protesting the Pure Pleasure adult book and video store, which they dubbed "Satan's Library." The city ultimately changed its zoning, forcing the business to shut down.

Once they clinch the real estate deal, the partners say they will invite chiefs of the nation's Indian tribes to bless the land. Then they will invite the leaders of the world's religions, including Pope John Paul II, whom they are confident will come.

After the blessings are given, the group will break ground within 30 days, said the partners, who hope to complete the theme park in five to eight years.

Plans include a 500,000-square-foot convention center to house information booths for any religion that wants to participate; interactive and live displays depicting the 66 books of the King James version of the Bible; camel rides and a Noah's Ark zoo featuring two animals of every kind.

They also plan a re-creation of the Red Sea parting, "which a team of scientists is working on as we speak," Edder said.

The Christ statue and observation tower planned as the jewel of Holy Land will rise 33 stories, representing Jesus' age when he died, Edder said. Four elevators will carry tourists to a glassed-in head depicting the three faces of the father, son and holy spirit.

Smoking, drinking, cursing and gambling will be prohibited in the park.

"We won't in any way compete with the casinos in Nevada," Venczel said. "The Moral Majority is going to love us."

The partners hope to attract casino patrons who might want to make religious pilgrimages after visiting Las Vegas.

Edder is scheduled to brief Mesquite City Council members about his project at their Tuesday meeting.