As its name suggests, Eureka Springs encompasses 66 cold mineral springs, which were historically thought to have healing powers. Really makes the story vivid for kids to understand this part of time. For many years a circuit rider preacher ministered to this little congregation. Expenses for 2010 topped $1.9 million while revenue was $1.6 million. About - The Great Passion Play Smith and his wife, Elna Smith. The Great Passion Play | Eureka Springs AR - Facebook The Great Passion Play begins at 8:30 PM (7:30 PM after August 15). read more. A reduction in the number of performances each season also alleviated some financial problems. Great Passion Play in northwest Ark. is closing - KHBS Find inspiration by exploring and participating with the whole family in the many things to do on site from the most religious to the most invigorating at The Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs! The regular, 2022 season begins the weekend of May 27th, with three shows most weeks to October 29th. The Great Passion Play Its so much more than just a play, its a PLAYground! 935 Passion Play Road, Eureka Springs, AR 72632. But the unique entrance isn't the only reason to visit this place of worship: Its architecture, inspired by the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, is truly distinctive. The Christian theme park was the brainchild of Gerald L. K. Smith, a conservative politician who retired to Eureka Springs in the 1960s. Remember, the play is copyrighted. Read our Privacy Policy. Click here for year-round schedule. Child (4 - 11 years old) $15.00 Price includes tax. My youngest loved the petting zoo and the bible museum was great. Cross said the foundation had the property on the market this year for $5.5 million but did not find a buyer. The historic downtown also offers a wide selection of dining options alongside wine bars and live music venues. The season is 110 days, from late May through late October. "Millions upon millions of people, even more than have seen the Great Passion Play, have seen the Christ of the Ozarks. Those with the Great Passion Play hope the legacy of their faith will live on forever. Construction began during the summer of 1967. Now thats convenience! 16 Top Things to Do in Eureka Springs, Arkansas - U.S. News Travel read more, Very entertaining and inspirational. The holy land tour was great all but it being really hot outside!! A decline in attendance in the last few years led to the play's shutdown, after its producers worked unsuccessfully to keep the long-time tradition open. Attractions - Great Passion Play - Eureka Springs It will be a deed in lieu of foreclosure. At the end of every performance, a crossis raised as a symbol of victory. The Great Passion Play first opened in Eureka Springs in 1968. Very educational. Cornerstone Bank wants to sell the 677-acre property. "We met last week," he said. 40,637 were here. CLICK HERE for Passion Play Discount Rate at the Crescent Hotel, 2023 Eureka Springs Kids. Come with U.S. News on a tour of the InterContinental Boston. Visit a petting zoo, enjoy the outdoor scenery, watch the drama unfold on the stage, and experience the land of the Lord unlike you have before when you make a day out of visiting the museum and performance! The report, the latest one available, also shows assets of $3.1 million and liabilities of $2 million. LITTLE ROCK The Great Passion Play, the long-running outdoor drama in Eureka Springs, will close after its season ends in late October unless the nonprofit receives financial help, its. These tragic figures include a stonemason who fell to his death during construction, a 4-year-old who died of appendicitis and even a hotel cat buried on the property. The 2022 Passion Play season kicks off with 7:30pm shows for Good Friday and Holy Saturday (April 15th and 16th). Hike, Bike, Fish, & Relax at Black Bass Lake Park. "Throughout the years, it's the biggest thing Eureka Springs has had going. Featured on "Ghost Hunters" and "Ghost Adventures," the tours can get a little spooky and are recommended for children ages 8 and older; visitors 16 or younger must be accompanied by an adult. We did the holy land tour, went through the gift shops and then saw the play. In the beginning it was used not only as a church but also as a meeting place and school. 9:00am-8:00pm on days of Passion Play and Fridays & Saturdays through New Year's Day. Mike Maloney, executive director of the Eureka Springs Advertising and Promotions Commission, said the loss of the Passion Play would affect the overall economic health of the city. We have had a slow decline in attendance for the last20 years, and we really thought we would be able to turn it around," said Kent Butler, spokesperson with Elna M. Smith Foundation. publications. Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs, Arkansas Watch on The Play Holy Land Tour In-Depth Tabernacle Teaching Backstage Tour Dinner Buffet Virtual Tour The Passion Play runs May through October. On the grounds of The Great Passion Play, it is one of the most visited attractions in the Ozarks. This activity is no longer available. The tour can be taken at your leisure. Help Links ? Find inspiration by exploring and participating with the whole family in the many things to do on site from the most religious to the most invigorating at The Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs! 471 Passion Play Rd, Eureka Springs, AR 72632-9666. The Great Passion Play was started in 1968 by Gerald L.K. Here are the most interesting and fun things to do in the area. Yarbrough, Caleb. For Reservations, call toll free 800-882-7529 or visit www.GreatPassionPlay.org Attractions. Ray said in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the play was at its peak, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each season. So while activities like touching or feeding the wildlife are off the table, recent visitors enjoy the opportunity to see what this refuge is doing for the rescued animals, adding that the tours are educational and the staff is knowledgeable. Eureka Springs' Great Passion Play comes to end. These new inspirational trails are perfect for the entire family! Kevin Stitt approves controversial education rules backed by Ryan Walters, Letter: Someone needs to rein in State Superintendent Ryan Walters, How two phone calls 10 years apart led to former Sooner Jordy Bahl joining Nebraska softball. Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs, Arkansas Watch on 2023 Great Passion Play Season 9:00 AM - Gift Shops and Bible Museum Open (free to see Bible Museum with donations accepted) 9:00 AM - 7:45 PM - Virtual Reality Tours of Israel available in the Bible Museum Ray, who has been executive director for three years, said the foundation has enough money to cover expenses for the rest of the season, which includes 24 performances through Oct. 27. If you can, provide 1-2 sources of information backing up this correction. Cross said the bank will receive not just the real estate but other property that includes an extensive Bible collection and artwork. Kovalcik, Timothy M. The Great Passion Play. 2021 Great Passion Play Season - TicketSpice There are manyplaces to stayin Eureka Springs and funthings to do! Do the seats have backs? $14.45 for adults, $13.45 for youth (ages 12-16), and $7.50 for kids (ages 4-11). Explore the culture, history, and people of ancient Middle East in the time in which Jesus was raised on this outstanding bus tour and Eureka Springs Passion Play. If you are lucky, he might even let you practice with marshmallows! It was one of the primary reasons that Eureka Springs has been successful," he said. We're entering a new year. We also seen a few pre play shows that were awesome. It is finished: "The Great Passion Play" closing permanently If you want more than just a daytrip, various cabins, hotels and campgrounds are scattered around the lake, making it a viable alternative to staying in Eureka Springs proper: Beaver Lake Cottages and Beaver Lakefront Cabins are two nearby options that are highly rated. Its 12- or 14-hour days, but when you go home at night, you can put your head on the pillow and go to sleep and know youve affected the world.. This project is funded in part by a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant award. Coupert automatically finds and applies every available code, all for free. They see the impact of the life-changing experience people have when they come here. Employees worked on the building for three months to refurbish it. Address: 274 Quigley Castle Road, Eureka Spring, AR 72632. We arrived early to tour the grounds. Visit Eureka Springs for mineral springs, big cats, ghost tours and more. They can load up and come over here.. Picnic tables are there for your use and enjoyment. Visitors flock to the small urban area for both its charming Victorian-era city center and the natural beauty surrounding it, including a wealth of mineral springs for bathing in. Walking through a life-sized replica of the Eastern Gate in Jerusalem into an authentic Marketplace, you will feel as if you are in the actual Holy Land. That's our goal," Cross said. Basin Spring (formerly known as the Indians' Healing Spring), which now feeds a fountain in Basin Spring Park in the heart of the city, is one of the most notable. To help make ends meet, the foundation has cut the staff from 58 full-time workers to nine. (Courtesy of Eureka Springs City Advertising & Promotion Commission). Rice said despite that history, the play has been a boon to the state. In addition, an array of public art, including the notable Rainbow Stairs and Humpty Dumpty on a Wall, will impress visitors. The Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs, Arkansas is "America's #1 Attended Outdoor Drama" according to the Institute of Outdoor Theatre and Drama of East Carolina University at Greenville. All the staff was friendly and helpful. I wonder if the family still owns that incredible home off the road to Berryville. Later, it became a stopover point and respite for the Cherokee people during their forced migration known as Trail of Tears; they were drawn to the blue-tinged natural spring found here given its prominence in Indigenous stories. When Gerald L.K. 109 reviews #13 of 23 Tours & Activities in Eureka Springs Historical & Heritage Tours Write a review See all photos About The Holy Land Tour provides visitors of all ages with the unique opportunity to experience the people, culture, and history of the ancient Middle East. We still hope and pray for a miracle," Butler said. Bulldozers carved a 3,500-seat amphitheater out of the mountain, overlooking a 400-foot-wide stage. Later, the seating was increased to 4,100 seats and the width to more than 500 feet. What time does the performance start? The play was very moving and uplifting. 100 Rock Street #5 of 79 Restaurants in Eureka Springs. Address: 95 S. Main St., Eureka Springs, AR 72632. Its crucial to the success of Northwest Arkansas and frankly, Eureka Springs is important to the whole state. Attendance peaked at 289,212 in 1992, when the production was promoted as America's top outdoor drama, said Keith Butler, chairman of the nonprofit Elna M. Smith Foundation, which owns the property and runs the play. Ticket Options and Prices - Eureka Springs Passion Play There was a "soft" media opening on July 14, 1968, followed the next night with the first public performance. Grotto Wood-Fired Grill and Wine Cave. Creating an account gives you access to all these features. Open Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year and on days of the Passion Play performances. Inside Eureka Springs, the Bible Belt's LGBTQ oasis | CNN For the first time in five decades, it won't be lit for the holidays and won't be seen up-close. The rest of the grounds will also be open still. After 1915, it was dedicated as a full-time church. The Sacred Arts Center includes over 1,000 works of art, some of which date back to the ninth century! Well keep our fingers crossed.. New Holy Land Tour, Eureka Springs - Tripadvisor http://www.greatpassionplay.com/ (accessed February 8, 2022). The story of Christ's birth, death and resurrection was performed with upmost significance from the Bible. Loved it all. They bought a historic house in Eureka Springs, a property known as Penn Castle, in 1964, and made the city one of their homes. Loved all the extra things to see and do while Some of the rarest Bibles include an original 1st edition 1st printing 1611 King James Version, the only Bible signed by all of the original Gideons in 1898, the first Cherokee Bible, as well as a page from the Gutenberg Bible! Picnic tables are there for your use and enjoyment. Beyond the show, travelers can check out the on-site Bible Museum as well as the Holy Land Tour, which will take you through important biblical sites such as a historically accurate, full-size re-creation of the ancient East Jerusalem Gate and Marketplace. Broken Arrow woman named winner of St. Judes 2023 Dream Home in Owasso, Tulsa Opera cancels most of 2023-2024 season, general director resigns, Faith advisers push for full minute of silence, biblical posters in every class, Ryan Walters says, Update: 84% of power outages have been restored, PSO says; heat alert extended, T. Boone Pickens gives one more gift to OSU: $120 million, Emma Watsons levitating dress is confusing the internet, All-World baseball: Meet the finalists for player of the year; first team and honorable mention selections, Police staffing issues force Tulsa Pride to limit, shorten parade, How To Make A Salad That Will Keep You Full, These Are Considered One of the Most Complex and Interesting Fruits in the World, 5 Fun Activities That Will You Get In Shape. With pieces dating back to the ninth century, the Sacred Arts Center features a diverse mix of artistic mediums portraying Christ and the Christian life. After Smith retired in the 1960s, he and his wife vowed to leave a lasting legacy. Eureka Springs Great Passion Play is not just a performance but a theme park, with lots of related things to see and do. Major support provided through a partnership with the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism. You can sit in the seat that you want because seating is open! Billed as "the Ozarks' strangest dwelling," this oddball home south of Eureka Springs is the product of a nature-loving woman who designed her house to have maximum room for greenery. He also was known for his far-right activism and his anti-Semitism. Smith moved to Eureka in the mid60s, that was a pretty sleepy community, he said. Are there assigned seats? Address: 80 Mountain St., Eureka Spring, AR 72632. See the Easter story come to life fromthe first weekend in May through the last weekend in October. The Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs (Carroll County)is an outdoor drama depicting the last week in the life of Jesus Christ. It's hard to lose it.". Recent attendees enjoyed the performance, saying the small size of the theater gives everyone a good view and the audience participation provides a unique magic show experience. Top related activities are listed below: My wife and i spent the whole day together there and had an amazing time. The Great Passion Play Address 935 Passion Play Rd, Eureka Springs, AR, 72632 US Directions Google, Bing, MapQuest Terms * 1. Address: 299 N. Main St., Eureka Springs, AR 72632. Heres what some folks have to say about the tour: I grew up in the area and attended the play many times over the years, but the backstage tour gave me a completely different perspective of the play.. Tours are from 12:00pm to 4:00pm on days of Play performances and there are special guided tours every day but Sunday by advanced reservation. That makes Eureka Springs ideal for a weekend getaway, although there are plenty of reasons to stay longer, if you so choose. Parables of the Potter - The Great Passion Play 9:00am-8:00pm on days of Passion Play and Fridays & Saturdays through New Year's Day. Address: 935 Passion Play Road, Eureka Springs, AR 72632 Ozark Mountain Hoe-Down Music Theater For a knee-slapping good time after dark in Eureka Springs, consider this nightly variety show at a . Perfect for the whole family! 62 with exposure to tourists and locals alike, as on the main road to the Great Passion Play and between Exxon Station and medical clinic, across road from Walden Plaza in area of, established motels, shopping and offices. My kids ranging from age 16-age 8 said they would all love to watch the play again!! I cant wait to go again. Talk with Biblical craftspeople and characters.