FORT MILL, S.C. — When televangelist Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye operated Heritage USA, the Christian-focused theme park in Fort Mill was one of the most successful attractions of its kind, bringing millions to the region.
The park is long closed, and most of the park facilities have been torn down, repurposed, or are in disrepair.
But one of its attractions is still standing and operating as originally built.
The Upper Room Chapel was modeled after a church in Israel claiming to be the site of the Last Supper.
After sitting vacant for years, it was bought, renovated, and now hosts nightly church groups and is open to the public on the weekends.
It’s celebrating its 10-year anniversary of reopening.
Most of the remnants of Heritage USA are gone. But the current owner of Upper Room Chapel, Russell James, says he’s happy to see several former facilities have lived on as churches since the park closed.
“All the rides and the waterpark, that was the outer person. But now the places that were designed to lift up that soul…most of those places still exist,” James says.
The Upper Room is raising money to finish up repairs to the interior. Anyone looking to donate or find more details about the Upper Room can find information, here.
The church is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.